Opinion
Was the Australian Idol winner ripped off?
Issue 76
As a paying voting member of the Australian Idol viewing fan base, I would like to expose what I believe to be a major fault of this whole system.
This is besides the fact that the music industry gives the process nor the artists it creates little credence.
However that pales in comparison when you consider the outrageous treatment of the winner of last years Australian Idol, who is not only the first Female Idol but also the first Indigenous Idol.
Last year, many fans were mesmerised by a young girl with an amazing voice and an unmatching pair of converse shoes. So much so, that she beat the odds (up against the more fancied gorgeous young man).
I finally believed Australia had turned the corner in their acceptance of talent over “the look”. How wonderful!
But alas, it was but a figment of my imagination. A betrayal of massive proportions. Let me give you two scenarios.
Contestant A. Looks like anything but the barbie cut outs that proliferate the music video screens and use their sexuality to sell a poorly constructed and even worse sung song.
Has an amazing ability at just 16 years old to interpret a piece of music be it jazz, pop or heavy metal.
Wins the ultimate prize in a singing contest. Releases a sappy single (that is a cover version in anycase). The “b” side of this single is lifted directly from the Idol series - no re-recording done here so no expenses outlayed.
For the first time, this single is made available for download from Telstra’s Big Pond prior to release in CD format.
It becomes the fastest and biggest selling single on record for downloads, yet the sales are not counted towards any charting awards.
Despite this the single debut’s at number one on the ARIA charts.
The Idol is then given eight days to record the first album aimed to be released before the lucrative Christmas period.
The same “reward” was afforded to the first, not only the winner of Australian Idol, but here is where the similarities end.
Contestant B. A handsome young man that has the teeny boppers drooling.
Was expected by all to win the Idol crown but the voting public disagreed.
His looks are in perfect harmony with the “plastic” look seen in almost every video music clip. He is polished and sparkly clean.
The label that is responsible for the Idol album also signs the runner-up - within one week of the competition finishing.
They then announce that the runner-up will also release a single prior to Christmas. Last year the runner-up released their single after Christmas and not in direct competition with the winner.
The single is one of the highlights of two Idol seasons and of course is a huge hit, becoming the biggest ever single in Australian history.
Smart business sense some would say, no doubt. But what about the winner?
Contestant A. The album sells well but not as well as expected.
Could it have something to do with a complete lack of promotion by the label?
Some hastily put together “appearances” that are not well promoted hardly count. There is no television advertising of the album, Channel 10 (the Idol station) does not use one of the winner’s singles for their summer promo as they did the previous year.
The second single from the album is released with another song from the album as the “b” side - again no extra expenses.
Contestant B. Still has not released his album, but the second single is announced and will be released within two weeks of the winner’s second single. But wait, there’s more.
It is a double A-side release (which means two “b” sides) and it’s a limited edition. All four newly recorded songs for this lucky runner-up. Channel Idol (10) even had a news item dedicated to the upcoming release.
It seems such a shame they couldn’t have afforded the winner that honour considering her single was released two days before.
To cap off this betrayal, the label throws a big shindig and the winner of Idol is nowhere to be seen. Ah but yes, don’t panic - the runner-up is there.
So the “rip off” I refer to is this. We all spent money (55 cents per vote) to vote for the winner of Australian Idol and expected that as winner, she would be afforded the same respect as the winner in the previous year.
It appears that because our winner does not fit the mold of pop-star/Idol as perceived by the Sony BMG label and even her own management team (who also just happen to manage the runner-up), she has been dealt a very poor hand.
I would say to all of you out there who watch and enjoy Australian Idol to be very wary of spending one cent of your hard earned cash to vote for someone.
We learned the hard way that our votes mean nothing. We were ripped off pure and simple, even worse the winner was ripped off.
Lyn Fairlie
Via email
www.nit.com.au/opinion/story.aspx?id=4668
