Between broadcaster Channel 10, producers FremantleMedia/Grundy, record label BMG Australia and concept licensors 19, there must be a lot of people wringing their hands with glee. There's a lot of money to be made here, and with any luck, a bare minimum is going to be wasted on the “talent”
Firstly, there's all the advertising revenue. Idol is rating its arse off, and you can bet that Ten are charging an arm and a leg for any spots during the shows. Meanwhile, Fremantle Media are crowing over all the product-licensing revenue they're pulling in.
Then, there's the phone-in revenue. This is what's so amusing about Idol. The viewers have to put their hands in their pockets on top of what 10 are raking in from the advertisers to pay for their own “free-to-air” television. And boy are they encouraged to pay. “Vote often!” they're told. “Keep voting again and again!” Keep that money pouring in.
You could almost excuse this behaviour on Big Brother. The production cost of that show: keeping the house running 24/7, producing four or five hours of TV a week from the footage, and then handing $500,000 over to the winner (well, half to the winner, half to the ATO) would at least have made the show an expensive earner. Do you really think that Idol's weekly shows would be costing as much to produce as, say, the average episode of “Hey Hey It's Saturday”?
And then there's the prize. What exactly is the winner getting? Cash? A new car? Well, no. They're getting a recording contract. They're getting... the chance to work for a living. And we know from Popstars before it, that the career of an Australian TV talent-quest winner is short and unrewarding. The potential winner of Australian Idol would be better off walking out now and getting a job as a temp typist. They'll probably have more to show out of that in a year's time.
They're getting the wonderful opportunity for some short-lived fame, and the chance to make even more money for somebody else.
The single's going to enter the charts at number one. We know that. But having heard the single tonight, and having heard both finalists sing it, it's obvious that it's going to tank very quickly after that debut. It's behind the times. It's a foot-dragging ballad, that fits about as well into the upbeat Rap and R&B-laden Top 40 as it would if the winner were to record “Tie a Yellow Ribbon”.
Any album will do worse. Neither of the finalists have the charisma, passion or even the talent to hold up an entire album. They'll vanish into obscurity the same way as all the Popstars vanished before them.
Which isn't to say that BMG won't make money from the single or the album. It's impossible not to make money from a sure-fire number one. They just won't make money for the artist.
You see, when you make a CD, the artist has to pay back any advance (which includes the cost of the CD's production), and half the cost of making the video out of their royalties. Making sufficient royalties from the record to pay back the production costs is called ‘recouping’. It's only after you've recouped that you start to see any money from the record yourself.
Many people confuse recouping with the record making a profit. The record companies like to encourage this myth. Actually, the artist's royalties (especially the fraction of royalties given to artist who did not write the song) are a small percentage of the CD's profits. By the time the artist recoups, the record company has made their investment back many times over.
And then there's the merchandise. The Australian Idol will be property. They're the product of a world-wide brand, and that brand's not owned by them. It's owned by 19, the Idol show creators, and FremantleMedia, the licensee/producer. It's all built on top of exploiting the alleged talents of the contestants, but none of them, or the winner, will see any of it.
The system is rigged. Channel 10 make money. FremantleMedia/Grundy make money. 19 make money. BMG make money. The “talent”, the people the audience actually tune in every week to watch, have little chance of winning more than the joy of a few months fame, a few more months of shopping centre appearances, and then a realisation that they're yesterday's news, and the bills aren't getting paid.
How on earth did we ever let the records companies gain so much power? May their greedy business model die painfully.
Gosh thats so disappointing to know. I truely believed that the money went mostly to the "star". How come nothing is being done about this.
Nice to see that somebody else sees it for how it really is.
The music industry is the only one I know where a business hires somebody to work for them and then expects them to cover all costs, work the most and earn the least of everybody involved.
The record company has ultimate control of all money and decision making, it forces the artist to provide the talent, be the front man, and be completely contractually obliged in all aspects while the record company gives itself every available option to bail. The illusion is deliberate - the 'star' has all the money, and the record company supports the 'star' no matter what. It is far from the truth.
The Australian Idols are screwed before they even begin. Hell, their management is the shows creator!
The 'idols' are prime targets - young, inexperienced, desperate wannabes... perfect for the major players.
Sadly, the industry doesn't look like it's going to change. The corruption runs deep and the egos are bigger than Guy's hair. Read the book 'Hit Men' by Fredric Dannen. It's a must read for anyone with talent trying to survive the industry.
To who it may concern
I just wanted to inform you that the show is called Australian Idol for a reason that is because it is for people all over Australia. Not just the big places and states like Perth and Qlds and all those sort of places. Isn't the Northern Territory on the map then why are we not in the run to become the next Australian idol. Why cant there be auditions in the Northern Territory. Don't you think that we should at least have a chance, there is a lot of talent in the Northern Territory,but you just cant see it. Because you all just think people from the Northern Territory are just a bunch of cowgirls and cowboys which is Wrong.
Just because Northern Territory is not as good as all the other states but there is talent that you all just cant see. I am just writing this e-mail to inform you that there is people from the Northern Territory that would love to audition but cant afford to go to another state when the could hold auditions in Darwin which is the capital of the Northern Territory so please give the Northern Territory people a chance to become the next Ausralian Idol and hold auditions in Darwin
Yours Sincerely Brett Johnston
HELLO
GUY
you are a grat singer im won of your fans i have got pichers all over my room of you
love
Emily
xoxoxo
hi shannon when are u coming to dubbo to sing for us all my school can not wait until u came WE LOVE U SHANNON NOLL
from dubbo south high school
LOVE U SHANNON
u should of won
ive always wanted to be a singer, just to hear my songs on the radio, to watch my video clips on t.v, to do all that and think i was going to get rich just for singing. i thought it would be real easy getting rich for doing what i love.
but something like this gets me really thinking. As you grow up you see how the world really works. not the way your parents say,not how you saw it as a child but now as i am a little older i see behind the curtains.It shows me where the money rolls.
but that still doesnt keep me from what i love
hopefully you will see tha maori kween on t.v soon
BaBa
....GO GUY YOU THA MAN ...
....AND LEVI BOII U FINE ...
hey shannon
iam one of biggest fans in the world i have posters of u evrywhere
u rock the world u should of one !!!
i love u so much
u rock shannon noll
go shannon.... go shannon ..go shannon...
u will go and see at every concert u have
love form jamie-lee
oxoxox
p.s just remember u rock and i love ya
I know many people say that they R the #1 fan of Shannon Noll but really i am.
I have posters GLOURE in my room. I have made a huge poster of him with little pics all over it.
He is tha Hotteat man alive.
Shannon i am totally obsessed.
hey shannon noll
i love u
me and my friend made a book for u
when r u comming to blacktown again when u came the last time i waz the one that gave u a kiss love love love love love and meny more loves
from martina
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
u rock my world
my friend is saying that she will merry u one day
xoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxooxox
ps i i mean we love u shannon noll xoxoxox
Hi Shonnon
we love you.
You should of won you have the looks and voice
your the number one to us
you rule
were your number one fan of you and can you email me back
we love you lots
Jasmine & Tiffany
xxxxxxxxxxooooooooooooooxxxxxxxxxxxxxoooooooooooooxxxx
hey shannon, dont listen to these pplz we r your biggest fans eva we love you so much we ave pics of u all ova your skool books n your rooms!!!! hurry up n come tour in melb!!!! u r a hottie!!! your kids cody n blake r so cute!!!! when u come n tour down melb u will c us in da front row wit a huge poster!!!!
SHANNON IS A HOTTIE HE ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!
-XXXXXXOOOOOOOOOO-
hi shannon,
i'm your biggest fan and when you sang at the car racing that was great. and you should of won the australian idol.
i reckon you are a better sing than guy. When you came to Geelong, you shook my hand and I started crying. I have your album which you signed for me and I listen to it all of the time.
Yours Truly,
Stacey
god ppl! can you not see that some people just want to be on australian idol so the rest of the world can see then doing what they love but NOT for the money!???? I sing around the place a lot but my aim is not to be rich from singing, its just to do what i love to do for the rest of my life! australian idol is perfect for poeple like me and guy - even though you may not be the best thing around but you are still in the music industry after a few years still doing what you love and making a decent living - not living an a 5 story mansion on the river front in sydney harbour but still making or producing music. thankyou.
hey shannon, I LOVE U SO MUCH I THINK U SHOULD OF WON IM YA BIGGEST FAN I AVE PICS OF U EVERYWERE!!!! U ROCK I THINK U NEED TO HURRY UP N TOUR!!! EVERYONE THINKS DAT MI BOI LOOKS LIKE U EVERY TIME WE GO OUT HE HAS ALL THIS CHICKS ASKIN HIM IF HE IS SHANNON NOLL!!! HE HAS SAID YES HE WAS ONCE!!!! WELL I LOVE U SHAZZA U ROCK XXXXXXXXXXXXX
hey shannon our skool luvs u we have plasterd our skool wit postors of u ur just great u sooooo!!!!!!! should have won but anyway have a cd out and everyone ahs even me ok luv always jasmine ;)
i luv u ur the best i hav ur cd i think every1 has jus about bye luv jas:):D *:D
Dear SHANNON,
hi you have a great voice. if you do an concert, can you do one in Geelong or Melbourne because Geelong doesn't get many singers or famous people for some reason.
because say you did, I know I will go.
When you came to Geelong I shook your hand and then I cryed after it because I was so excited.
Hey Shannon,
i always knew from the start that u were gonna win. your misses is so lucky to have you. Goodluck in the future. wuv from manda
Hey Shonnon,
How are you?
I am a big fan of yours and whenever your song comes on I will not move from about 1 meter away from wherever the music is coming from until it is over. I can listen to your songs over and over again.
I think you are very sexy and your and awsome singer and you most definately should have won Australian Idol because you can sing a lot better than Guy Sebastian. I don't think that he can sing at all. People only voted for him because of the FRO which is gay mind you.
Anyway Lots Love
Cassandra
Hi shonnon
your the best I reckon u shoud of 1 .
guy just 1 because of that dumb!!! fro!!! of his.
ur my number #1 fan u r such a cuttie.
i hope that u come and sing in burnie or smithton.
we have got ur single and albulm,I listin to them every day.
I have got heaps of posters of u.
always loved by
Brittany!!! Hills!!! age:10
No offense Brittany but i think your missing the point of this post..
I love shannon so much, i see his pic and i faint, i hear his voice and i get dizzy, i seen him at his concert and smiled for a week afet, because i had finally seen SHANNON NOLLS, ands to top it off he waved at me, i love u shannon love saraXXXX
I love shannon so much, i see his pic and i faint, i hear his voice and i get dizzy, i seen him at his concert and smiled for a week afet, because i had finally seen SHANNON NOLLS, ands to top it off he waved at me, i love u shannon love saraXXXX
Everyone - if you all love Shannon Noll as much as we do then come to :
http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/shannon_aus_idol
Lots of fun to be had there!!!
Hey shannon, glad to see my email there, thanks for picking it!!!! i love u so much and u dont know it yet but im meeting u in may when u come to the australian italian festival!!!!! see you there love sara
Hey Shannnon,
how are you i just thought i might let you now that I LOVE YOU TO BITS. And for all thougs people out there im sure ur such a big im sure u r. But shannon i am such a big fan i have everything such as ring tone all four walls in my room are cover i posters of you , tshirt ,cap, a scrap book of u abd to top it all of i sre u in BUNDABERG . I couldnt believe when u held my arm while i took a photo. Shannon i just want to let you now i would pay anything to spend the day with u. Well darl i got to cruise so catch u later please wright bak u hunk LOVE U LOVE U LOVE U LOVE U LOVE UOVE heep xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Hey Shannon!!
I luv u soooooooooooooooo much i hav millionz of postaz of u and yeh i luv ya!! i luv ur song drive!!! itz awse!! i think u shud of won aus idol!!!!
lotza luv rach xxx
shannon noll smells like poo
hey shannon, i love u so so much im your biggest fan eva i ave 30 posters of u in mi bed room & 1000's of pics of u on mi skool books! i think u r just so sexc n i love u to bits i cant wait to c u ar bendigo 4 ya concert its ganna b slamming! well keep da good work up
love your biggest fan eva
love jessie gurl
xxxxxxxxoooooooooo
p.s U R SO SEXY SHAN!!!!!!!!1
Hey again Shannon!!! I bought womens day the other day, because it had an article on you!!! Your fiance Rochelle is gorgoues and so sweet!! Your kids are so cute!! You have a great family!! Im so happy for you!!! I wish you all the best, Guess what???!! My uncle is taking me to Condobolin in the Christmas holidays!! I dont know if u'll b there but i can hope!! But dont worry, i love you so much i wouldnt want to bother you ill juat say hello and give ur family a hug, love you, your the best, go hottie get em all!! love saraxxx
hey shannon, i have pics of u everywhere!!! On my school diary, on my walls, in my wallet!! I even have pictures of u framed. I listen to your cd everyday!!! u are such a turn on, i wish i could get with u but im happy that u have a family, and remember they should always come first!! ok? love u saraxxxx
hey shannon, i have pics of u everywhere!!! On my school diary, on my walls, in my wallet!! I even have pictures of u framed. I listen to your cd everyday!!! u are such a turn on, i wish i could get with u but im happy that u have a family, and remember they should always come first!! ok? love u saraxxxx
hello to all u shannon fans!! i would love to chat to ppl that r truly obsessed with shannon!! my email is bubba120_730@hotmail.com or shannon_deprived89@yahoo.com.au, so please please write to me and ill write back!! if u want u can give me ur hotmail addy's and i'll add u then we can talk about Shannon!! ok?
love sara, oh by the way i live in queensland Australia, and im nearly 15!!
hello to all u shannon fans!! i would love to chat to ppl that r truly obsessed with shannon!! my email is bubba120_730@hotmail.com or shannon_deprived89@yahoo.com.au, so please please write to me and ill write back!! if u want u can give me ur hotmail addy's and i'll add u then we can talk about Shannon!! ok?
love sara, oh by the way i live in queensland Australia, and im nearly 15!!
hello to all u shannon fans!! i would love to chat to ppl that r truly obsessed with shannon!! my email is bubba120_730@hotmail.com or shannon_deprived89@yahoo.com.au, so please please write to me and ill write back!! if u want u can give me ur hotmail addy's and i'll add u then we can talk about Shannon!! ok?
love sara, oh by the way i live in queensland Australia, and im nearly 15!!
hey shannon, i love u so much baby u r so hot! rochelle is so lucky to ave u im so jelous of her! i so wish i was her!!! well i cant wait to c u at bendigo hopefuly i get to meet u!!! your to boys are so cute n rochelle is really really pretty! weel i love u so much keep up ya good work hunny!!!
love ya
love always jessie
big hugs n kiss's xxxxoooo
p.s u r so sexc n i love u so much!!!!!!!
SHANNON U R DA BOMB BABY I LOVE U SO SO SO MUCH U R A HOTTIE!!!!! I SO WISH I COOD B WIT YOU! U ROCK!!!! LOVE U LOTS,
LOVE JESSIE
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! U R SO SEXC
hey shannon, we love u so much boi!!! i ave wrote so many things on dis web site!!!! u r so sexy!!! we ave pics of u every were all ova our bed rooms n skool books!!! i ave 28 pics of u in mi room now n i ave lost count of the ones in mi skool books!!! we ave loved u from da fist time we head your voice we voded 4 u 1000's of times!!!! well we betta go! love u so much sexc!!! big hugs n kiss 4 u!!! hurry up may 28th when u cum to bendigo its ganna go off!!! love u
love your 2 biggest fans
jessie n jess
xxxxxxxxxxxxxooooooooooooooooooooo
hey shannon,
i love u so so much!!! on anzac day my dad is taking me up to condo 4 your concert!!!! i cant wait it ganna be wicked!!! and i cant wait to c u in bendigo in may i got mi tickets today i was on da fone from 9 till 12 but i finally got them!!!! well i love u so much baybee! u to boys r so cute n rochelle is really really pretty n really lucky! love u lots
love jessie gurl
p.s shan u rock u r a hottie i love u
hey shannon
idd just like to say that i think u r very gay and levi should have won coz he is very sexy(a lot sexer then u!)
shannon u rock! u r so sexc i love u so much i sew u on da loges last nite dam he looked so hot well cant wait till u r in bendigo!!! love u lots love jess
shannon u are the best when u come to
lismore me and me mate are goin to have the biggest sign because
im ur best fan u easy should
have beat gay guy he waves like the biggest girl
dont u think but u ur im hero
from ur biggest fun ryan
hey shannon cant wait to see you at condobolin this weekenk. you are soooo sexy and you are the best. love liane
I love Shannon Noll
He is the best singer ever, I really like his album.
theres just one thing i want to know how do i get tickets to see him in bendigo?
I love you Shannon Noll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):)
I love Shannon Noll
He is the best singer ever, I really like his album.
theres just one thing i want to know how do i get tickets to see him in bendigo?
I love you Shannon Noll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):)
hi shannon u are so cool i wish u where my boyfriend
hay shannon,
i think that u have a grous voice and u r very lucky to have a kool family and a good job...... i would luv to do wat u do and btw good luck for the future ok ta ta take care love always sxc wexc xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo xoxo
p.s i fink u r sooooooooo hot and i luv u and i am ur no1 fan
hey shannon, we love u so much we think u r just da hottest thing round!!!! we cant wait untill u cum to bendigo 4 your concert its ganna b wicked!!! well we betta go love u so so much hunny
love alwayz
jess n sara
xxxxxxxooooooooo
hey shannon, im not going to say im ur biggest fan because obviously ppl have already said that! but i am ONE of the biggest! i went to condo to see ur thank you concert! and it was awesome...i didnt get very close but i tried to get some photos of you....i think your great i live exactly 2 hours away from condo..and i know what it is like with the drought and eveything...when i was in condo...i was with my aunty and best friend and two of my aunties other friend we listened to your cd the entire way over and all the way home! when we were in condo the ppl we were staying with showed us where you lived before australian idol and where your mum lived it was great! one of the girls i was with went over to the guys standing outside the front of your mum's place and asked if ur brother was there and if u were there but they said no! that you had been out partying all night and hadnt come home! but they said we could touch the white ute out the front lol! i would really love if u came and performed at my school! it would be awesome we all love you so much! im hoping to come and see you at bathurst or cowra again because i liked the one at condo so much! AND I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO GET A PHOTO WITH YOU! OR AN AUTOGRAPH!!! PLEASE REPLY! xoxo
hey shannon, im not going to say im ur biggest fan because obviously ppl have already said that! but i am ONE of the biggest! i went to condo to see ur thank you concert! and it was awesome...i didnt get very close but i tried to get some photos of you....i think your great i live exactly 2 hours away from condo..and i know what it is like with the drought and eveything...when i was in condo...i was with my aunty and best friend and two of my aunties other friend we listened to your cd the entire way over and all the way home! when we were in condo the ppl we were staying with showed us where you lived before australian idol and where your mum lived it was great! one of the girls i was with went over to the guys standing outside the front of your mum's place and asked if ur brother was there and if u were there but they said no! that you had been out partying all night and hadnt come home! but they said we could touch the white ute out the front lol! i would really love if u came and performed at my school! it would be awesome we all love you so much! im hoping to come and see you at bathurst or cowra again because i liked the one at condo so much! AND I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO GET A PHOTO WITH YOU! OR AN AUTOGRAPH!!! PLEASE REPLY! xoxo
Shannon I think you are great. Love your music and your smile!
U idiot, well u've been proved wrong by Guy. To say he never had the charisima to last or the talent.... You must be blind. He will make it in this industry. He's nothing like the Popstar crew and u will be eating your words for a friggin long time to come!
hey shannon, i love you so much you are so sexc! i have wrote on dis web site so many time! i think u r so hot n i love u so much! i have been counting down da day til your concert in bendigo its ganna b wicked. me n my friend jess r your biggest fans eva! you should c my poster and t-shirt i made for da concert well yer i betta go i love u so much
love alwayz
jess
hey shannon, i love you so much you are so sexc! i have wrote on dis web site so many time! i think u r so hot n i love u so much! i have been counting down da day til your concert in bendigo its ganna b wicked. me n my friend jess r your biggest fans eva! you should c my poster and t-shirt i made for da concert well yer i betta go i love u so much
love alwayz
jess
hey shannon, dat bree chick is full of shit me n jess r your biggest fans eva! we love u so much! hey bree we have done betta we got a kiss on da cheek up in canberra on anzac day! well shannon you rock hopefully we get to c you again in bendigo its ganna go go off! u should see our skool books and bedrooms it full of shannon stuff we have so many posters of you! and our mob fones are dedicated 2 you your bak grounds are pics of you and rings tones are watt about me n drive! everyone at skool says we r obsessed with you. we think rochelle and your two boys are just so beautiful! roch is really really pretty and really luckey to have a guy lyk you! well we betta get bak to your skool work coz da teacher keeps looking ova! love u lots hunny bun mwah
love u alwayz
your BIGGEST fans jessie n jess
[[Editors Note: This was NOT posted by Shannon Noll, it was posted by the same person as was responsible for the 'jessie girl' characters above. Yes, they're that pathetic, imitating their 'idol' talking to them...]]
Hi Jess and Jess,
You guys seem to be my biggest fans i am very stoked to hear that you guys came to my concerts and support me like you two do! Oh and for you Bree i found a scratch on the ute na just tricking! I better go now cody has hurt himself and for the two Jess's hopfully i put on a good show for you guys in bendigo
cya later love shannon
hi shannon i love u so much and i think iam your biggest fan all of my room is coverd with u all over and i was woundring if u could send me a pice on your clothing with it signd by u and family thank you so much i love u sooooooooooooooooooooooo much bibi love tegan send to [[Address deleted so I don't get in trouble, since this is probably a minor --Charles]]
yerr thats 4 saying that we did not write dat! so dont go sayin we did! from jessie gurl n jess
i dont lyk you sayin dat bout me n my friend! y wood you say we were shannon noll?
Hey Shannon u r really talneted and have a beautiful voice. I just lost my uncle and i had to sit in and waiting room it was horblie but i have ur cd and i just played ova and ova again i listen to the words and they are very heart felt songs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't want to be one of those girls that say they love u but i really do i can't wait to see u at ur concert!!!!!!! Thanks 4 so Much Ur so hot and gorgoues I lOVE YA MATE!!!! i also live in the bush!!