If you were trying to make a career in music, would you participate in a popularity contest that forced you to stop using your own personal Facebook, Twitter and MySpace accounts? Seems a bit defeating, doesn’t it?

Evidently, this season’s round of American Idol contestants have been forced to give up their use of social media, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The WSJ reports:

As of roughly 6 p.m. ET on March 3, all Twitter, Facebook and MySpace followers of individual “American Idol” contestants were sent the same message: “Thanks so much for following me/joining my Fan Page! All my updates from now on will be on our Official American Idol 9 Contestant Page, please become a fan there to read all my updates throughout the season!”

The show’s producers have also created consolidated Twitter, Facebook and MySpace accounts.

I’m not sure what American Idol thinks its going to accomplish by trying to control all conversation. Hoard traffic? Stifle unsanctioned campaigns? Keep contestants from tweeting from behind the scenes? It’s almost as if the producers are frightened of how social media could disrupt their model.

Well, if any of this year’s contestants do become hot, rest assured the fans will start their own campaigns. In fact, if that doesn’t happen, then Fox will have real reason to worry. In the meantime, the fact that Fox is shutting down massive channels of free and even somewhat controlled marketing is baffling.