IB on Idol and Glee

A MARRIAGE MADE IN PRIME TIME: In terms of TV shows that consistently make a difference, American Idol remains a significant platform as it enters its second decade. The series is experiencing robust ratings as UMG takes over from Sony Music and attempts to revitalize its starmaking machinery under Jimmy Iovine and his savvy A&R team. Glee, Sony’s current meal ticket, has even more immediacy than Idol in the sense that the show breaks out and sells its own versions of current hits on a weekly basis. In fact, with two episodes this week, the show nabbed eight of the top 12 slots on the iTunes chart after the Tuesday night airing. In the coming months, Sony will be further strengthened with the addition of Simon Cowell’s X Factor, also on Fox, while UMG counters with The Voice, the latest offering from reality-TV pioneer Mark Burnett (Survivor), on NBC. (2/10a)