Million-dollar idols face music
Nov 25, 2006 21:39:37 GMT 10
Post by OzBrat on Nov 25, 2006 21:39:37 GMT 10
The Sunday Times
MORE than one million votes will decide whether Jessica Mauboy or Damien Leith becomes the next Australian Idol tonight, The Sunday Times has learned.
Confidential figures obtained for the first time reveal the size of the weekly phone vote which earns millions of dollars each year for the companies behind Idol - Network Ten, Grundys and the UK's 19TV.
Although the companies refuse to reveal how many votes are cast The Sunday Times has learned the number is likely to exceed one million for the final when phone lines close tonight at 8.45pm.
Each vote from a landline telephone costs 55 cents, higher from mobiles, with profits used to defray the $10 million needed to stage the fourth Idol series.
Mauboy, a 17-year-old from Darwin, is the bookies' favourite to win the final, which is at the Sydney Opera House.
"I'm actually pretty scared and nervous, thinking about what is to come, and what might happen,'' Mauboy said. ``I'm thinking about it constantly.''
The young singer, who will be supported at the final by her parents and four sisters, spent last week rehearsing and selecting five costumes to wear tonight.
Leith, 30, from Newtown in Sydney via Ireland's County Kildare, will also have a cheer squad, including his wife, Eileen, his parents and brother.
"This means the world to me, truth be known,'' said Leith. ``I've been striving to get into the music industry for 15 years, so to get to this point it feels like the dream is really startng to happen.''
Leith, who quit his job at a pharmaceutical company during the week, has paid tribute to two close friends who convinced him to audition for Australian Idol earlier this year.
"I was 100 per cent sure I wasn't going, because at my age I didn't really want to be criticised (by the judges).
"On the day of auditions Eileen and I were out with friends, both named Alex, and I brought up Idol in conversation. After about two or three hours they had convinced me that I had nothing to lose.
"Thank God they did,'' Leith said.
It is thought that official Idol record label, SonyBMG, is considering releasing Leith's versions of Roy Orbison's Crying and Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, although company representatives declined to comment.
Leith and Mauboy have revealed that they will pray together before hitting the stage tonight.
"A group of us have been doing it before every performance,'' Mauboy said.
"Whoever wants to say something does,'' added Leith. ``It's a calming moment. I don't pray that I'll be amazing, just for clarity, so I don't lose it at the last minute, or let nerves take over. It's a good thing.''
In the lead up to the final Mauboy and Leith recorded separate versions of the song Night Of My Life, written by Adam Reily.
The winner's version of the song will be available to buy via download after the competition tonight, and is expected to be available at retailers mid-week.
The winner's album will not be released until next year.
SonyBMG is expected to announce this week that it has signed Idol's Dean Geyer, who came third, to a four-album deal.
MORE than one million votes will decide whether Jessica Mauboy or Damien Leith becomes the next Australian Idol tonight, The Sunday Times has learned.
Confidential figures obtained for the first time reveal the size of the weekly phone vote which earns millions of dollars each year for the companies behind Idol - Network Ten, Grundys and the UK's 19TV.
Although the companies refuse to reveal how many votes are cast The Sunday Times has learned the number is likely to exceed one million for the final when phone lines close tonight at 8.45pm.
Each vote from a landline telephone costs 55 cents, higher from mobiles, with profits used to defray the $10 million needed to stage the fourth Idol series.
Mauboy, a 17-year-old from Darwin, is the bookies' favourite to win the final, which is at the Sydney Opera House.
"I'm actually pretty scared and nervous, thinking about what is to come, and what might happen,'' Mauboy said. ``I'm thinking about it constantly.''
The young singer, who will be supported at the final by her parents and four sisters, spent last week rehearsing and selecting five costumes to wear tonight.
Leith, 30, from Newtown in Sydney via Ireland's County Kildare, will also have a cheer squad, including his wife, Eileen, his parents and brother.
"This means the world to me, truth be known,'' said Leith. ``I've been striving to get into the music industry for 15 years, so to get to this point it feels like the dream is really startng to happen.''
Leith, who quit his job at a pharmaceutical company during the week, has paid tribute to two close friends who convinced him to audition for Australian Idol earlier this year.
"I was 100 per cent sure I wasn't going, because at my age I didn't really want to be criticised (by the judges).
"On the day of auditions Eileen and I were out with friends, both named Alex, and I brought up Idol in conversation. After about two or three hours they had convinced me that I had nothing to lose.
"Thank God they did,'' Leith said.
It is thought that official Idol record label, SonyBMG, is considering releasing Leith's versions of Roy Orbison's Crying and Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, although company representatives declined to comment.
Leith and Mauboy have revealed that they will pray together before hitting the stage tonight.
"A group of us have been doing it before every performance,'' Mauboy said.
"Whoever wants to say something does,'' added Leith. ``It's a calming moment. I don't pray that I'll be amazing, just for clarity, so I don't lose it at the last minute, or let nerves take over. It's a good thing.''
In the lead up to the final Mauboy and Leith recorded separate versions of the song Night Of My Life, written by Adam Reily.
The winner's version of the song will be available to buy via download after the competition tonight, and is expected to be available at retailers mid-week.
The winner's album will not be released until next year.
SonyBMG is expected to announce this week that it has signed Idol's Dean Geyer, who came third, to a four-album deal.
I can not wait for anything and everything Damien releases 
