Australian Idol is the Logie Award winning Australian version of the hit British TV show Pop Idol. It is very similar in format to the American adaptation, American Idol. It is a talent contest to find a pop performer and is hosted by Andrew G and James Mathison aired on Network Ten and broadcast on the Austereo Radio Network. The first season started on July 27, 2003, and finished on November 19. The first season was won by Guy Sebastian ahead of Shannon Noll while the 2004 season saw Casey Donovan win ahead of Anthony Callea. The 2005 season was won by Kate DeAraugo ahead of Emily Williams. The 2006 season ended on Sunday, November 26 and was won by Damien Leith ahead of Jessica Mauboy. Season 5 premiered on August 5, 2007 and ended on November 25 with Natalie Gauci defeating Matt Corby.
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About the show
The panel of judges for the Australian show are Mark Holden, a former pop star and now music producer. Marcia Hines, a soul singer, and Kyle Sandilands, a radio personality and Ian 'Dicko' Dickinson. Ian "Dicko" Dickson, a marketing manager of BMG Australia, who left after the second season for the competing Seven Network. On November 30, 2006, it was announced that Ian Dickson is returning to the show from the fifth season onwards as a permanent fourth judge of the competition. This will be similar to the original UK Pop Idol which had a four judge panel.[1] This show is a competition which gives people the chance to win a million dollar recording contract with Sony BMG. The show was formerly filmed at the Global Television Studios in Sydney. But as of Season 5 the show moved to the much larger FOX studios.
Auditions
Auditions are held in major cities around Australia to find each season's contestants. As of 2007 the audition locations are; Adelaide, Albury/Wodonga, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Bunbury, Canberra, Coffs Harbour, Darwin, Dubbo, Hobart, Kalgoorlie, Launceston, Melbourne, Mildura, Newcastle, Perth, Rockhampton, Sydney, Wollongong and Wagga Wagga.[2] During auditions contestants perform a song of their choice before all four judges who then respond with either criticism or praise followed by a yes or no vote as to whether the contestant has been accepted. Contestants will only be accepted if at least three of the judges voted yes.
Top 100
Around 100 people make it to Sydney to compete in the Top 100. The first task in the Top 100 is the 'chorus line' where 10 people are chosen randomly to perform in front of the judges. Each singing a short piece from a song of their choice. After all 10 have performed the judges choose which contestants are eliminated. In the next phase, the Top 100 contestants are randomly put into groups of four and the groups choose a song from a short list of pop songs and they are given all night to rehearse so they are able to perform it next morning. These group performances are generally criticised by the judges but with few exceptions. The next day each contestant performs an a capella of a song of their choice in front of the judges and all the remaining contestants. That night contestants are informed individually whether they make it to the semi final round, the Top 24.
Semi-finals
The semifinal format has varied season to season. In the most recent season, the Top 24 consisted of 12 males and 12 females. The performances are then grouped into two male groups and two female groups. Following the performances from a group, two will be chosen by the viewers into the Top 12. After the four groups perform and 8 contestants chosen, a number of eliminated contestants are chosen by the judges to perform in the wildcard round. A round where a further two are chosen by viewers and another two by the judges. Performances generally last around two minutes and are followed by comments from each of the four judges.
Finals
As the number of performers reaches 12 the contestants are given the task of choosing a song, in accordance with a weekly theme, to perform live on national television. Viewers then telephone (or SMS) their vote(s) in relation to who they want to stay another week. At the beginning of an elimination show the remaining idols also take part in a group performance that relates to the previous night's theme. Then the contestants with the three lowest amounts of votes are taken into the 'bottom three', before being told first who is safe for another week and finally who has been eliminated. The eliminated competitor then presents a final song - usually the number they sang the previous night.
Grand Finale
The winner is announced during the Grand Finale at the Sydney Opera House. Featuring fireworks, an outdoor concert with many Idol stars such as Guy Sebastian, Anthony Callea, Damien Leith and the Young Divas and highlights of the series. It has been the highest rating episode of each season. The final originally followed by a national tour involving at least the top twelve contestants, but from following the 2007 season, there will be a "Winners Journey Tour" involving the winner with some guest performances from the Top 12.
Touchdowns
A "touchdown" is awarded by judge Mark Holden when, in his own opinion, a contestant's performance is particularly good. Holden awarded his first ever "touchdown" to Cosima De Vito in the Top 8 on Australian Made night in Season 1. His most recent touchdown went to Natalie Gauci in the Top 4 on Big Band night during Season 5. Seanson 2 winner Casey Donovan and Damien Leith from Season 4 have the record for the most amount of touchdowns at four apiece. Some of Holdens most memorable Touchdowns include Guy Sebastians rendition of "Climb Every Mountain", Casey Donovans "Special Ones" and "Beautiful", Anthony Calleas "The Prayer", Emily Williams "River Deep, Mountain High", Jessica Mauboy's "Beautiful" and "Words" and most recently Natalie Gauci's renditions of "Umbrella" and "Boys In Town"
Criticism
Lack of ongoing Recording Industry support
Australian Idol and its performers are often criticized by the Australian media and entertainers [3]. Some winners and runners-up from the show have failed to maintain popularity past the airing of their respective series of the show. Critics have also lamented the associated record companies claiming high record sales but instead measuring the number of copies shipped to music stores in sale or return.[4] However, Idol contestants Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll have defied critics and maintained their popularity.[5]
Alleged vote-stacking by special interest groups
In October 2007 criticism was leveled at the fairness of the program's telephone voting system, where 50% of the remaining contestants were noted to be members of the Hillsong Assemblies of God Christian denomination [6], [7], and raising concerns of vote-stacking by the church congregation.
Revenue generation
In November, reporter Neil Wooldridge stated that although the producers are coy about how much is being made from SMS promotions that "some commentators estimate Telstra and Network Ten, partners in the 'Australian Idol' program, made up to $900,000 profit each episode. " In 2003 it is estimated that viewers cast 20 million votes for their favourite Australian Idol contestant. At 55 cents for each telephone call or text message, that's $11 million even before advertising revenue.In Season 2 it is estimated that 29 million votes were cast making $16 million.Season 3 saw a slight drop with 18 million votes cast making $10 million,Season Four 26 Million were cast making $14.3 million and in Season 5 22 Million were cast making $12.2 million.Even if the show doesnt set the ratings on fire it still pays for itself and then some.Network Ten pay around 13 million for each season.But when the vote and advertising revenue comes in all parties involved have still made a significant profit. [8]
Top-Selling Australian Idol Albums
This list only included artists with at least one certified material, does not include pre-Idol recordings, and only included sales information that is available.
| Idol Contestant Total Sales |
Debut Album | Second Album | Third Album | Fourth Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Guy Sebastian (Season 1, Winner) 630,000 |
Just As I Am (December 2003) 420,000 6x Platinum Peak: #1 |
Beautiful Life (October 2004) 70,000 Platinum Peak: #2 |
Closer To The Sun (October 2006) 70,000 Platinum Peak: #4 |
The Memphis Album (November 2007) 70,000 Platinum Peak: #3 |
| 1. | Shannon Noll (Season 1, Runner-Up) 630,000 |
That's What I'm Talking About (February 2004) 350,000 5x Platinum Peak:#1 |
Lift (October 2005) 210,000 3x Platinum Peak: #1 |
Turn It Up (September 2007) 70,000 Platinum Peak: #3 |
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| 3. | Damien Leith (Season 4, Winner) 350,000 |
The Winner's Journey (December 2006) 280,000 4x Platinum Peak: #1 |
Where We Land (August 2007) 70,000 Platinum Peak: #1 |
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| 4. | Casey Donovan (Season 2, Winner) 210,000 |
For You (December 2004) 210,000 3x Platinum Peak: #2 |
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| 5. | Anthony Callea (Season 2, Runner-Up) 180,000 |
Anthony Callea (March 2005) 140,000 2x Platinum Peak: #1 |
A New Chapter (November 2006) 40,000 Gold Peak: #9 |
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| 6. | Young Divas (Group of four previous Idol Contestants) 175,000 |
Young Divas (November 2006) 140,000 2x Platinum Peak: #4 |
New Attitude (November 2007) 35,000 Gold Peak: #10 |
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| 7. | Paulini Curuenavuli (Season 1, 4th Place) 100,000 |
One Determined Heart (July 2004) 75,000 Platinum Peak: #1 |
Songs For Christmas (November 2004) 15,000 N/A Peak: #70 |
Superwoman (August 2006) 10,000 N/A Peak: #72 |
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| 8. | Kate DeAraugo (Season 3, Winner) 75,000 |
A Place I've Never Been (December 2005) 75,000 Platinum Peak: #10 |
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| 9. | Natalie Gauci (Season 5, Winner) 70,000 |
The Winners Journey (December 2007) 70,000 Platinum Peak: #11 |
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| 10. | Cosima De Vito (Season 1, 3rd Place) 60,000 |
Cosima (October 2004) 50,000 Gold Peak: #2 |
This Is Now (September 2007) 10,000 N/A Peak: N/A |
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| 11. | Ricki-Lee Coulter (Season 2, 7th Place) 50,000 |
Ricki-Lee (October 2005) 40,000 Gold Peak: #30 |
Brand New Day (August 2007) 10,000 N/A Peak: #37 |
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| 12. | Lee Harding (Season 3, 3rd Place) 40,000 |
What's Wrong With This Picture? (February 2006) 40,000 Gold Peak: #3 |
Top selling Idol singles
| Year | Idol Contestant | Single | Peak position | Weeks in Top 100 | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Anthony Callea | "The Prayer" | #1 | 25 | Anthony Callea | 4x Platinum |
| 2003 | Guy Sebastian | "Angels Brought Me Here" | #1 | 15 | Just as I Am | 4x Platinum |
| 2004 | Shannon Noll | "What About Me" | #1 | 20 | That's What I'm Talking About | 4x Platinum |
| 2006 | Damien Leith | "Night Of My Life" | #1 | 22 | The Winners Journey | 2x Platinum |
| 2004 | Casey Donovan | "Listen With Your Heart" | #1 | 15 | For You | 2x Platinum |
| 2005 | Anthony Callea | "Rain/Bridge Over Troubled Water" | #1 | 21 | Anthony Callea | 2x Platinum |
| 2004 | Joel Turner | "These Kids" | #1 | 31 | Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets | 2x Platinum |
| 2004 | Guy Sebastian | "Out With My Baby" | #1 | 17 | Beautiful Life | Platinum |
| 2005 | Shannon Noll | "Shine" | #1 | 27 | Lift | Platinum |
| 2005 | Lee Harding | "Wasabi" | #1 | 27 | What's Wrong With This Picture? | Platinum |
| 2004 | Cosima | "When The War Is Over/One Night Without You" | #1 | ?? | Cosima | Platinum |
| 2004 | Paulini | "Angel Eyes" | #1 | 26 | One Determined Heart | Platinum |
| 2006 | Young Divas | "This Time I Know It's For Real" | #2 | 34 | Young Divas | Platinum |
| 2005 | Kate DeAraugo | "Maybe Tonight" | #1 | 21 | A Place I've Never Been | Platinum |
| 2007 | Natalie Gauci | "Here I Am" | #2 | Still In Charts | The Winner's Journey | Gold |
| 2007 | Ricki-Lee Coulter | "Can't Touch It" | #2 | Still In Charts | Brand New Day | Gold |
| 2007 | Ricki-Lee Coulter | "Love Is All Around" | #5 | Still In Charts | Brand New Day | NA |
| 2006 | Young Divas | "Happenin' All Over Again" | #9 | 11 | Young Divas | Gold |
References
- ^ "Sydney Morning Herald", Sydney Morning Herald, November 30, 2006
- ^ "Audition Locations", Australian Idol official site, 2007
- ^ Bernard Zuel. Will Idol winners ever get any respect?. Retrieved on [[2007-09-06]].
- ^ c.f. Zuel
- ^ Sams, Christine.Noll finds fans in pond where big fish swim. Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved on September 22, 2007.
- ^ Jane Nethercote. Australian Idol: Where are the singing Buddhists?. Retrieved on [[2007-10-10]].
- ^ Garth Montgomery. Idol fans angry at vote bloc. Retrieved on 2007-10-10.
- ^ SMS Phenomenon. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
See also
External links
- Australian Idol
- Australian Idol on ten.com.au
- Australian Idol at the Internet Movie Database
- Australian Idol at the National Film and Sound Archive
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| Hosts and judges | Andrew G · James Mathison · Mark Holden · Marcia Hines · Ian "Dicko" Dickson · Kyle Sandilands |
| Winners | Guy Sebastian · Casey Donovan · Kate DeAraugo · Damien Leith · Natalie Gauci |
| Runners-up | Shannon Noll · Anthony Callea · Emily Williams · Jessica Mauboy · Matt Corby |
| Notable alumni | Cosima De Vito · Paulini Curuenavuli · Joel Turner · Hayley Jensen · Ricki-Lee Coulter · Lee Harding · Dean Geyer · Lisa Mitchell · Bobby Flynn |
| Winner's Singles | "Angels Brought Me Here" · "Listen with Your Heart" · "Maybe Tonight" · "Night of My Life" · "Here I Am" |
| Seasons | 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 |
| Related articles | John Foreman · Erana Clark · List of semi finalists · Young Divas · List of commercial releases |
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| National franchises | United Kingdom (original) • Armenia • Australia • Belgium • Brazil • Bulgaria • Canada • Croatia • Czech Republic • Denmark • Estonia • Finland • France • Germany • Greece • Iceland • India • Indonesia • Kazakhstan • Malaysia • Netherlands • New Zealand • Norway • Pakistan • Philippines • Poland • Portugal • Russia • Singapore • Slovakia • South Africa • Sweden • Turkey • United States • Vietnam |
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| International franchises | Africa • Arab world • Asia • Latin America • Serbia, Montenegro & Macedonia • West Africa • World Idol | |
