news articles 3 december

[Inside Australian Idol]

From idol to idle
December 3, 2003 - 3:21PM


Australian Idol Guy Sebastian's debut album is out on Monday but beware - those overseas idols have been hitting the low notes.

American second place finalist Justin Guarini has already been dumped by BMG and England's Gareth Gates has released what is already being called a flop of an album.

The Guarini dumping was swift and brutal. According to Billboard the runner-up to Kelly Clarkson was still in Idol mode and advertised as one of the acts on the Idol Christmas special for the USA but was a last minute removal from the show.

His album sold less than 140,000 units in the USA. (Gold there is 500,000).

Idol winner Clarkson has to date sold less than two times platinum and current US Idol Clay Aiken is already out of the Top 10.

The Americans released an Idol Christmas album this week. The record likewise had a poor debut falling outside the Top 30 in week one.

In the UK last year's star is this year's has-been. Gareth Gates fumbled onto the British chart and out again even faster. One month after release, his album has disappeared from the English chart.

AAP


www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/03/1070351637820.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Fallen Idols

The Pop Idol charade is already starting to falter with American second place finalist Justin Guarini already dumped by BMG and England's Gareth Gates releasing what is already being called a flop of an album.

The Guarini dumping was swift and brutal. According to Billboard the runner-up to Kelly Clarkson was still in Idol mode and advertised as one of the acts on the Idol Christmas special for the USA but was a last minute removal from the show.

His album sold less than 140,000 units in the USA. (Gold there is 500,000).

Idol winner Clarkson has to date sold less than two times platinum and current US Idol Clay Aiken is already out of the Top 10. Although sales of his cailbre would allow many artists to retire, in Clarkson and Aiken's case they will see no or very little money from sales because of the massive costs they are liable to recoup.

The Americans released an Idol Christmas album this week. The record likewise had a poor debut falling outside the Top 30 in week one.

In the UK last year's star is this year's has-been. Garth Gates fumbled onto the British chart and out again even faster. One month after release, his album has disappeared from the English chart.

Tamyra Gray is another Idol finalist added to the scrapheap. MTV reports she was signed to J Records (BMG) in October but dumped this week before they even released one single.

In Australia, local winner Guy Sebastian will release his debut album on Monday. He will need to see sales of around 350,000 before he earns his first dollar from the recording. In Australia, only Delta Goodrem and Norah Jones reached that level this year.


by Paul Cashmere


www.undercover.com.au/news/2003/20031203_idols.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Ten enjoys ad surge
December 3, 2003 - 3:06PM


Ten Network Holdings Ltd has made a strong start to its new financial year, with a 20 per cent surge in TV advertising revenues and higher than expected dividend payment for shareholders.

Executive chairman Nick Falloon said Ten had made an "exceptional start" to 2003/04, with strong advertising revenues driving first quarter earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation up (EBITDA) 37 per cent.

The strength of Ten's earnings has allowed the media group to increase its final dividend payment for 2002/03 to 9.5 cents per share from the eight cents it previously expected to hand over to shareholders in January.

There will also be a 5.5 cent a share special dividend.

Despite the upbeat start to 2003/04, Mr Falloon declined to give any forecasts for Ten's earnings for the entire year.

"Nevertheless, we expect good growth in revenue and earnings for the current financial year with a strong return to shareholders through our twice-yearly dividend payments," he told shareholders at Ten's annual meeting.

The news pushed Ten's shares up six cents to $2.84 by 1400 AEDT.

Ten enjoyed huge ratings success with the pop star contest Australian Idol during the three months to the end of November, a period which is traditionally the biggest contributor to Ten's annual earnings.

Mr Falloon said Ten would have its "best ever line up of shows" in 2004, including another series of Idol plus other reality show hits including Big Brother and a local version of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

The head of Ten's TV business John McAlpine said the network was currently in talks with advertisers about ad rates for 2004 and believed Ten would "get the increase that we deserve" based on its program ratings success in 2003.

He added that he expected the TV ad market to grow between four and five per cent in 2004, slightly lower than some market watchers who have forecast seven to nine per cent.

Based on demand so far this month, Ten expects "low double digit" TV revenue growth in December, Mr McAlpine told reporters and analysts after the shareholder meeting.

Looking ahead, Mr McAlpine said he expected the summer non-ratings period to be more competitive than previous years.

"I think you will find January generally in the market place that it will be the most competitive January you have ever seen," he said.

"People are trying to get their runs on the board before we get the official (ratings) survey in February."

©2003 AAP

www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/03/1070351636756.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Malaysian-born ‘Aussie Idol’ tops charts


Sebastian: Will go to LOndon later this month for the 'World Idol' contest.


MELBOURNE: Malaysian-born Guy Sebastian, who was voted “Australian Idol,” has stormed to the top of the Australian singles charts with his first song, Angels Brought Me Here.

The 21-year-old pop sensation beat fellow “Idol” contestant Shannon Noll during a national phone poll last month, securing a recording contract with BMG Australia.

Sebastian's first song became the fastest-selling single in chart history when it sold 128,000 copies after only seven days, BMG Australia said.

Sebastian's release has also recorded the highest first week single sales for a debut artiste.

BMG Australia said the response to Sebastian's first release as a solo recording artiste had been nothing short of phenomenal.

Sebastian, who will go to London later this month for the “World Idol” contest, is the son of Ivan and Nellie Sebastian, formerly of Klang. – Bernama

www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2003/12/3/nation/6830095&sec=nation

[Inside Australian Idol]

Guy launches new album with free show in Sydney
He’s been crowned your Australian Idol, his debut single has already become the highest selling Australian single in AriaNET history, and on Sunday December 7, Sydney audiences will be the first to hear songs from Guy Sebastian’s debut record ‘JUST AS I AM’<br>
Guy Sebastian will be making his only Sydney public performance to promote the release of his debut album ‘JUST AS I AM’ at SYDNEY CITY’s MARTIN PLACE ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7TH 2003 AT 12:00 NOON.

The general public are invited to come along and see Guy performing songs from ‘JUST AS I AM’ as well as be one of the first to purchase the album from the HMV stall on site to get signed by Guy himself! The Sydney instore kicks off a week long tour of major capital cities, before Guy heads off on December 13 to represent Australia at World Idol in London.

Guy Sebastian’s #1 single ‘ANGELS BROUGHT ME HERE’ is instore now, his debut album ‘JUST AS I AM’ is out through BMG Australia on December 8th 2003.


www.bmg.com.au/news