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Kara DioGuardi says replacing Simon Cowell on 'American Idol’ is going to be difficult.

The judge and songwriter admits there are few people who will be able to fill Simon’s shoes when he leaves at the end of the current season, but she thinks record boss Tommy Mottola could be a good choice.

She said: 'Finding someone who has a lot of knowledge about music and who is also an interesting character is going to be a daunting task.

'I like Tommy Mottola, because he has launched the careers of a lot of superstars, but whoever gets the call has got to be a character.'

She also admits she sometimes finds it difficult to believe she is on 'American Idol’ with such big personalities – chat show host Ellen DeGeneres, record producer Randy Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest.

She said: 'Could I be next to bigger people? My God – Ryan Seacrest, Ellen, Simon and Randy! Sometimes I look in the hallway and think, 'There’s a billion dollars in this building!’ '

Kara – who has written songs for Pink, Ashlee Simpson and Gwen Stefani in the past - claims some of the viewers of the show are particularly critical about her judging ability.

She told Women’s Health Magazine: 'People are so mean, they’ll go, 'Kara’s stupid. She repeats whatever Randy says. Paula’s way better’ or 'she’s ugly’. I’m like, really? I may not be some beauty but ugly.

Simon is leaving 'American Idol’ to begin a US version of his British talent show 'The X Factor’ – it has not yet been confirmed who will be on the judging panel for his new venture, although Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole is thought to be lined up for a role.

Gwen Stefani thinks she is 'running out of time' to have another child.

The 40-year-old singer – who has sons Kingston, three, and 18-month-old Zuma with husband Gavin Rossdale – has mixed feelings about expanding her family but knows she needs to make a decision soon.

She said: 'No one could have prepared me for how awesome motherhood is, and how hard. I often feel like I’m running out of time. But I don’t want to spread myself so thin that I can’t be good for them. Poor Zuma, he’d be the middle guy.

'I’m not focusing on it right now, but it’s not up to me anyway, you know? These things are miracles, so we’ll see.'

Despite their young age, the No Doubt star is amazed by how different her two children are already.

She added to America’s InStyle magazine: 'It’s crazy how the second child is so different from the first, and has the same parents. They are totally different, and they look totally different.

'Zuma is more of a show-off. He wants everyone to watch him, and he’s a goofball and he’s really silly. He’s a funny guy.'

Spoon, Broken Bells, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, and Band Of Skulls kicked off the first official day of the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas today (March 17).

Spoon packed Stubb's Bar-B-Que -- one of the largest SXSW venues -- for their midnight set. Britt Daniel and co performed several tracks from their most recent album, 'Transference', kicking off with 'Written In Reverse'. The Austin-based band appeared in high spirits and delivered an energetic set, warming up an otherwise chilly evening.

Broken Bells -- composed of Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton) and The Shins' frontman James Mercer -- preceded Spoon at the NPR showcase. The duo were augmented to a seven-piece and performed the majority of tracks from their recent self-titled debut album. Danger Mouse switched between drums, guitar and keyboards throughout the set.

"What is it, Valentine's Day?" Mercer quipped, surveying the crowd filled with people wearing green. "Oh, green is for St Patrick's Day. Drink until you pee green."

Earlier in the evening, Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings got the crowd dancing with their crowd-pleasing old-school funk. The irrepressible frontwoman got some of the loudest cheers of the evening, shimmying across the stage in a green sequined dress and putting her band through the paces, who are also known for their work with Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse. The band previewed a handful of new tracks from their forthcoming album, 'I Learned The Hard Way', which is due out in the US April 6.

As usual, the day was filled with shows, parties and receptions put on by everyone from the British Embassy to the mayor of Austin and featuring a host of bands including Band Of Skulls, Toro Y Moi, Hesta Prynn and The Acrylics. Band Of Skulls delivered a raucous performance at the British Embassy reception, offering up their unique brand of blues rock tracks from their debut album, 'Baby Darling Doll Face Honey'. "We've broken about four amps in the past two days," said bassist/vocalist Emma Richardson. "I'm not gonna apologize for breaking things," responded guitarist/singer Russell Marsden.

Earlier in the day, Toro Y Moi (aka Chaz Bundick) packed the house at the Mohawk in the heat of the afternoon, delivering his dreamy brand of synth pop armed with only a laptop and a microphone.

The day kicked off with a noontime set by Brooklyn band The Acrylics at the Austin Convention Center. Despite the early hour, the quintet expertly delivered their ethereal indie folk rock while swigging beer. The band performed tracks from their recent EP 'All The Fire', produced by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear, and told NME.COM that they're hard at work on a full-length album that they plan to release later this year.

Stay tuned to NME.COM for more SXSW coverage throughout the week.