The panel of judges for the Australian show were Mark Holden, a former pop star and now music producer, Marcia Hines, a soul singer, and Ian "Dicko" Dickson, marketing manager of BMG Australia, who left after the second season (for the competing Seven Network), and has since been replaced by radio personality Kyle Sandilands. This show is a competition which gives people the chance to win a recording contract with Sony BMG. The show is filmed at the Global Television Studios in Sydney.
Australian Idol quickly became one of the most popular shows on Australian television, the final between Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll being the most popular show broadcast on Australian television in 2003. Network Ten paid $15 million for the season but this investment was repaid when the station that had perennially been the #3 network became the #2 network towards the end of 2003 and cemented the network as the #1 station in its target demographic, the under 40's. This success meant that the station could charge advertisers more for commercials broadcast on the network.
The success of the season prompted the Seven Network to commission a rival series called Popstars Live in the first half of 2004. However, this series was not a success. The success of Australian Idol and the first season of The Block on the Nine Network prompted networks including the Ten Network to invest in new reality series that were not as successful, such as The Resort and The Hothouse, which led to large losses by the relevant network.
The eventual winner of the competition was Guy Sebastian. He beat Shannon Noll (2nd), Cosima De Vito (3rd), Paulini Curuenavuli (4th) & Rob Mills (5th). After Idol, it was these five, the Final 5, who were the most successful out of the Top 12. They scored record hits, but the two best-selling artists were the finalists, Guy & Shannon. Cosima De Vito made history herself when as an Independent artist, her debut single became the first independent single to debut at No.1 on the Australian charts. Other Idol contestants from Season 1 to release music were Levi Kereama (with his band Lethbridge), Rebekah LaVauney, Peter Ryan and Courtney Act. Paulini and Guy are currently participating in It Takes Two on the Seven Network.
Casey Donovan, Winner of the 2nd Season of "Australian Idol" with runner up Anthony Callea
The second season of Australian Idol debuted on July 13, 2004. The level of success of the contestants in the first season has lured over 50,000 people throughout Australia to audition.
The winner was Casey Donovan. She beat out Anthony Callea (2nd), Courtney Murphy (3rd), Hayley Jensen (4th) & Chanel Cole (5th). The final 2, as well as Ricki Lee, were the only contestants of the Top 12 to score hits, although Chanel Cole & Daniel Belle did team up under the label Spook, to release an album in mid to late 2005, with the two best-selling contestants being Casey & Anthony. Ngaiire Joseph (Top 30 contestant) and Marty have released a single each in late 2005. Hayley will be releasing an album in early 2006.
On a darker note, Telstra, a major sponsor of the series, made an embarrassing error when they issued a series of half-page advertisements in major newspapers congratulating Donovan on her victory, and linking to her website. However, the address was incorrect, leading to a website about gayporn starCasey Donovan, rather than the singer's. The company issued a prompt apology upon realising their mistake. [1]
After this season, judge Dicko bowed out of the series, later to appear in the Seven Network reality TV shows My Restaurant Rules and most recently, Dancing with the Stars. The 2004 season was also notable for an Asian contestant named "Flynn", who sang the Freestylers song "Push Up" after being found from a terrible audition, in the same vein as William Hung.
Kate DeAraugo, Winner of the 3rd Season of "Australian Idol"
The third season of Australian Idol debuted on July 26, 2005. The first of three semi-finals was held on August 16, 2005 with three of the Final 12 contenders announced the following night on August 17, 2005. The replacement judge for Dicko was 2Day FM radio host Kyle Sandilands.
For the first time in Australian Idol history there were 13 finalists. This came about during the Wildcard Verdict show on September 5, 2005. The judges initially chose James Kannis and Emily Williams to go through to the final. This left one spot which was chosen by the Australian public. Out of the remaining contestants the two that received the highest votes were Dan Spillane and Roxane LeBrasse. With only 1% between them, Dan was announced as the final member of the Top 12. This meant Roxane had missed out yet again. The judges decided however that Roxane was too good to be left out of the Top 12 so they made it a Top 13. That catch was that two contestants were eliminated in the first round of the finals.
Eventually, the winner was decided, and it was Kate DeAraugo. She beat Emily Williams (2nd), Lee Harding (3rd) & Dan England (4th). Lee Harding has been signed to Sony BMG and released his first single, "Wasabi", in mid December 2005, and an album in February 2006. Dan England has been announced to be touring with Shannon Noll. Emily Williams has also been signed to Sony BMG after much controversy from her fans complaining that Emily should have got a record contract before 3rd place Lee Harding did; she is expected to release her first single in early 2006. There are also rumours that Sony BMG is reluctant to sign Anne Robertson, because she is very similar to former Australian Idol contestant Paulini Curuenavuli.
Although averaging around the 1.5 million viewer mark, ratings were down on the latest season compared to the first two, which regulary drew more than 2.5 million viewers during the latter half of the competition. This is a serious situation for Ten, which airs three Australian Idol shows every week, and has forced them to give away free commercial airtime to program sponsors expecting higher ratings. Commentators have theorised over the reasons why this has occurred, ranging from the viewing public being tired of the format to Sandilands replacing the popular Dickson. Controversy also surrounded the Australian Idol: Live Verdict show running up to fifteen minutes overtime.
According to reports the best talent from auditonees were from the rural areas. The TV advertisements describe a change in the viewer's role in the show, possibly changing voting processes to "Save" votes and "Evict" votes à la Big Brother Australia. The Fourth season began on Sunday 6 August, 2006. It has been noted that "Inside Idol" has been dropped, the semi-final process has been "streamlined" (replaced with the 12 females, 12 males format of American Idol) and the contestants will be able to bring instruments with them on stage. Such changes are said to have been made to remove the "blandness" of the third season.
The success of Australian Idol has been reflected on the Australian charts with three finalists albums and multiple contestant albums all enjoying considerable success so far.
So far, the albums released: Australian Idol: Final 12 reached #3 on the charts and achieved double platinum status. Just As I Am, the debut album by winner Guy Sebastian debuted at #1 in December 2003 and has achieved 6x platinum status or sales of 500,000, and his second album Beautiful Life debuted at #2 in October 2004 and has so far achieved platinum status (behind Robbie Williams' Greatest Hits). That's What I'm Talking About by runner-up Shannon Noll debuted at #1 in early 2004 and has achieved 5x platinum status, selling 350,000 albums, and Noll's second album Lift also debuted at #1 in October 2005. Up All Night by finalist Rob Mills debuted in the Australian top 30 of the album charts in late June. One Determined Heart by finalist Paulini Curuenavuli was released in late July on Sony Music and debuted at #1 in the album charts after the success of the first single (see below), achieving platinum status. A Christmas album full of carols, called Amazing Grace: Songs for Christmas was also recorded and released by her in December 2004, reaching the top 100. Cosima by finalist Cosima De Vito debuted at #2 in the albums in October 2004 (behind Maroon 5's Songs about Jane), so far achieving gold status. Hinesight, a covers album by Idol judge Marcia Hines has also reached the top 20 in September 2004. Joel Turner and The Modern Day Poets, the self-titled album from "unforgettable" contestant and beatboxer Joel Turner with The Modern Day Poets reached the top 30 in November 2004. For You, Casey Donovan's debut album, debuted at #2 in December 2004, behind Robbie Williams' Greatest Hits. Cast Album Australian Idol Final 10, an album by the 10 finalists of the second season made the top 20 in February 2005. Anthony Callea, Anthony Callea's debut self-titled album, released on 28 March2005, and debuted at #1 on the albums chart of 4 April2005, so far achieving double platinum status. Ricki-Lee, Ricki-Lee Coulter's self-titled debut album, which was released on October 32005, reaching the top 30. A Place I've Never Been, Kate DeAraugo's debut album, released on 12 December2005, reached the top 10 that month. What's Wrong with This Picture?, Lee Harding's debut album, released in February 2006, debuted at #3, so far achieving gold status.
In total, Australian Idol contestants have sold approximately a million albums in Australia since November 2003. BMG who signed up the two original finalists have presented Guy Sebastian with a royalty cheque for a million dollars in July 2004, with Shannon Noll also receiving a similar cheque later in the year. [2]
As of May 2006, Australian Idol contestants have enjoyed over forty top 40 hits in Australia since November 2003: *"Rise Up" by the Australian Idol Final 12 reached #1 in November 2003. *Guy Sebastian has had three #1 singles in Australia ("Angels Brought Me Here" and "All I Need is You" from his debut album; "Out with my Baby" from his second album, so far achieving platinum status), and also top 20 singles from his second album with "Kryptonite" and "Oh-Oh". *Shannon Noll has had two #1 hits with "What About Me?", a cover of the Moving Pictures (also a #1 from 1982) and "Learn to Fly", and a top 5 hit with "Drive", as well as being part of the Dreamtime Christmas All-Stars (also featuring Cosima De Vito, Rob Mills), to record "Twelve Days of Christmas", which reached the top 30 in December 2004, and a new song "Come On Aussie, Come On" reaching #2 in the same month. He also debuted at #1 again in October 2005 with the song "Shine" and the title single from his second album Lift debuted at #13 on the 12th December 2005, and peaking at #10. "Now I Run" the 3rd single from Lift debuted at #6. *Cosima De Vito's debut single "When The War Is Over", a cover of the ballad by Cold Chisel, debuted at #1 in the charts on 16 August, achieving platinum status, as well being part of the Dreamtime Christmas All-Stars (also featuring Shannon Noll, Rob Mills), to record "Twelve Days of Christmas", which reached the top 30 in December 2004, and a second solo single, "Now That You Can't Have Me", reaching the top 50 in the same month. *Paulini Curuenavuli's first single "Angel Eyes", a cover of the Fred Koller song made famous in 1989 by Jeff Healey, debuted at #2 in the charts on 12 July2004then reached #1 the week after and stayed there for several weeks, achieving platinum status. Her second single "We Can Try" reached the top 30 in October 2004. In January 2006, Paulini proved that she was no one hit wonder when her single "Rough Day" debuted at #26 while also reaching #3 and spending several weeks in the top 10 singles of the Dance Chart. Her second song released in 2006 was "So Over You", so far peaking in the top 50. *Rob Mills reached the top ten in late May 2004 with "Ms Vanity", and also reached the top 30 in August 2004 with a second single "Every Single Day"; Rob was also part of the Dreamtime Christmas All-Stars (along with Shannon Noll and Cosima De Vito), who recorded "Twelve Days of Christmas", which reached the top 30 in December 2004. *Finalist Levi Kereama enjoyed top 20 success as a member of Lethbridge with the single "In My Room" in May 2004. He then released another single credited to him featuring Lethbridge, called "Handcuffs Off", reaching the top 40 in January 2005. *Semi-finalist Courtney Act enjoyed a top 40 hit with "Rub Me Wrong" in March 2004. *Joel Turner also reached #1 with The Modern Day Poets on the single "These Kids" in November 2004, so far achieving platinum status. They also had a second single called "Knock U Out!" (featuring champion boxer Anthony "The Man" Mundine), using the beats of "Eye of The Tiger", made famous by the Rocky movie. The single was released in January 2005, and debuted in the top 20 in February 2005, and a third single "Funk U Up" was also released in May 2005, also reaching top twenty status, even higher than "Knock U Out". He also released a new single entitled "Respect" in October 2005, reaching the top thirty. *Casey Donovan debuted at #1 with her debut single, "Listen With Your Heart" in November 2004, so far achieving double platinum status, reached the top 20 with her second single "What's Going On?" in February 2005, and reached #51 with her third single "Flow" in August 2005. *Anthony Callea debuted at #1 in December 2004 with his debut single "The Prayer", a cover of the version by Carole Bayer Sager, also made famous by Andrea Bocelli and Céline Dion, so far achieving quadruple platinum status, and debuted at #1 again in March 2005 with a double A-side of "Rain"/"Bridge Over Troubled Water". His third single "Hurts So Bad" reached the top ten in July 2005. His fourth single "Per Sempre" (For Always) reached the top five in October 2005. *"Good Times", a song originally by The Easybeats, made famous with a cover by Jimmy Barnes and INXS, was covered by the Final 10 of the second season of Idol and it charted in the top 60 in February 2005. *Finalist Ricki-Lee Coulter reached the top 5 with the song "Hell No!" in June 2005. She also reached the top 10 with her second single "Sunshine" in October 2005. Her third single "Breathe" performed very well also, peaking at #14 in January 2006. *Kate DeAraugo, the winner of the third series, debuted at #1 in December 2005 with her debut single "Maybe Tonight". Her second single, "Faded", debuted at #8 in February 2006. *Lee Harding, who came third in the third series, also debuted at #1 in December 2005 with his debut single "Wasabi". His second single, "Anything For You", debuted at #23 in March 2006. *The Young Divas, consisting of Paulini, Ricki-Lee, Kate DeAraugo and Emily Williams released a single, "This Time I Know It's For Real" in May 2006, peaking at #2.
The strength of the success of Australian Idol contestants in the charts was shown when Shannon Noll's single "Learn to Fly" debuted at #1 just a few sales points ahead of "Angel Eyes" by Paulini Curuenavuli on the Australian singles charts of 12 July, 2004. Paulini's single even jumped up to #1 the following week. Paulini's and Guy Sebastian's singles and albums, as well as one of Ricki Lee's singles, have also featured prominently in the Urban Music charts.
