Post by Inside Australian Idol on Nov 16, 2003 2:00:46 GMT 10
Great Idol rip-off
By PAUL STEWART and PETER HOLMES
16nov03
Aussie battlers: Australian Idol finalists Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll have been stars for three months, but have not seen a dollar.
CHANNEL 10 has made up to $20 million already from TV juggernaut Australian Idol.
But the biggest stars of the show, finalists Guy and Shannon, have not received a cent for three months' work.
And although they have signed five-album deals with global recording giant BMG, they will not earn a dollar until the records return the $1 million already committed to production and marketing.
And they could be dumped after one album if they bomb.
Channel 10 has made at least $10 million from the phone-in vote lines alone - but hot favourite Guy Sebastian is under no illusions about making any riches.
"BMG Records, Mark Holden and Simon Fuller (the creator) will be the ones making most of the money," said the Adelaide singer.
Shannon Noll added that fans were mistaken if they thought the winner would receive $1 million.
"That is wrong," he said. "That amount of money has been spent on promotion but it all has to be recouped by the record company, which means we have to make more than $1 million in CD sales before we see any money."
The pair can expect to repay BMG approximately $2.30 for every $30 CD sold over the counter, meaning they need to sell 440,000 albums each to make money.
The winner will release his debut album on December 8, with the runner-up to follow.
BMG chief Ed St John said the recording contracts signed by Sebastian and Noll were in line with what was offered to any new artist.
"They're given independent legal advice before they sign," Mr St John said.
He predicted the winner's album would sell about 210,000 copies by the end of the year, the equivalent of triple platinum.
"I think it will be the No 1 album at Christmas and the fastest-selling album by a new artist in the history of Australian music," he said.
But a rival record company spokesman said Guy and Shannon would be lucky to see more than a few scraps, even if they succeeded.
"The production company that runs the show gets about 60 per cent of future earnings, Mark Holden gets 20 per cent management fees and tour promoters make about 12 per cent," he said. "That leaves 8 per cent for the artists."
But Guy said: "If I don't make the money back, its BMG's loss. There's nothing to lose, except my dignity and pride, but it's definitely worth giving it a shot rather than not trying it at all."
Father-of-two Shannon added: "I could always play with my brothers again in our covers band. We would get a lot of bookings with the exposure this has brought us."
But there is also discontent from the stars, who are dismayed the winner must begin promotional work at 6am the day after Wednesday's Sydney Opera House finale.
"It never stops," Shannon said. "We are like mushrooms, kept in the dark and fed you know what."
The Sunday Herald Sun has learned that late in the week, there was only a 4 per cent difference in the votes for Guy and Shannon.
Meanwhile the winner will appear in an international version of Idol, but you won't be able to vote for them.
World Idol will screen on Channel 10 at Christmas but viewers can't vote for the contestant from their country. The show will feature the Australian winner against US Idol's Kelly Clarkson, Britain's Will Young and contestants from South Africa, Poland, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, the Middle East, Belgium and Canada.
www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,7877609%255E2902,00.html
By PAUL STEWART and PETER HOLMES
16nov03
Aussie battlers: Australian Idol finalists Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll have been stars for three months, but have not seen a dollar.
CHANNEL 10 has made up to $20 million already from TV juggernaut Australian Idol.
But the biggest stars of the show, finalists Guy and Shannon, have not received a cent for three months' work.
And although they have signed five-album deals with global recording giant BMG, they will not earn a dollar until the records return the $1 million already committed to production and marketing.
And they could be dumped after one album if they bomb.
Channel 10 has made at least $10 million from the phone-in vote lines alone - but hot favourite Guy Sebastian is under no illusions about making any riches.
"BMG Records, Mark Holden and Simon Fuller (the creator) will be the ones making most of the money," said the Adelaide singer.
Shannon Noll added that fans were mistaken if they thought the winner would receive $1 million.
"That is wrong," he said. "That amount of money has been spent on promotion but it all has to be recouped by the record company, which means we have to make more than $1 million in CD sales before we see any money."
The pair can expect to repay BMG approximately $2.30 for every $30 CD sold over the counter, meaning they need to sell 440,000 albums each to make money.
The winner will release his debut album on December 8, with the runner-up to follow.
BMG chief Ed St John said the recording contracts signed by Sebastian and Noll were in line with what was offered to any new artist.
"They're given independent legal advice before they sign," Mr St John said.
He predicted the winner's album would sell about 210,000 copies by the end of the year, the equivalent of triple platinum.
"I think it will be the No 1 album at Christmas and the fastest-selling album by a new artist in the history of Australian music," he said.
But a rival record company spokesman said Guy and Shannon would be lucky to see more than a few scraps, even if they succeeded.
"The production company that runs the show gets about 60 per cent of future earnings, Mark Holden gets 20 per cent management fees and tour promoters make about 12 per cent," he said. "That leaves 8 per cent for the artists."
But Guy said: "If I don't make the money back, its BMG's loss. There's nothing to lose, except my dignity and pride, but it's definitely worth giving it a shot rather than not trying it at all."
Father-of-two Shannon added: "I could always play with my brothers again in our covers band. We would get a lot of bookings with the exposure this has brought us."
But there is also discontent from the stars, who are dismayed the winner must begin promotional work at 6am the day after Wednesday's Sydney Opera House finale.
"It never stops," Shannon said. "We are like mushrooms, kept in the dark and fed you know what."
The Sunday Herald Sun has learned that late in the week, there was only a 4 per cent difference in the votes for Guy and Shannon.
Meanwhile the winner will appear in an international version of Idol, but you won't be able to vote for them.
World Idol will screen on Channel 10 at Christmas but viewers can't vote for the contestant from their country. The show will feature the Australian winner against US Idol's Kelly Clarkson, Britain's Will Young and contestants from South Africa, Poland, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, the Middle East, Belgium and Canada.
www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,7877609%255E2902,00.html
