Cloud hangs over Idol show

Rosita Vai is a strong favourite.

As the last three contestants battle for the title of New Zealand Idol, a cloud is hanging over the future of the popular TV show.

Music industry giant Sony BMG is understood to be ruing its involvement in the second series, with fears that it could be left thousands of dollars out of pocket.

The company's managers are remaining tight-lipped about the final three contestants and its future plans, but it is believed to be unhappy with the voting system, with stronger singers regularly ousted by weaker contenders.

Despite comments such as "you and I have something in common - I have no rhythm and neither do you" from judge Paul Ellis, 19-year-old Steve Broad has made it to the top three and looks as if he could win the popular vote.

Hot favourite Keshia Paulse - rated by many fans as having the best voice - was eliminated early in the top 10 round.

Singing teacher and vocal coach David Tillinghast told the Herald on Sunday he was pleasantly surprised with the judging and felt Rosita Vai and Nik Carlson were technically the best of the finalists.

Steve, however, was outclassed by them, he said.

"To be honest, Steve seems to be the token catwalk vote. He is getting better on his higher notes, but technically he has very little control over his lower range, and I keep expecting it to go horribly wrong at any second. He tends to go sharp and slightly out of tune."

Mr Tillinghast said the wild card group had some of the strongest singers in the contest.

However, whether Sony BMG is on to a winner remains to be seen.

"If I was at SonyBMG I would be crossing my fingers that it is Rosita Vai that wins through on the day," said a rival record company executive, who asked not to be named.

Sony has a contractual obligation to produce an album for the winner of the Idol competition.

But with the average cost to produce and market an album estimated at $100,000, it needs the album to reach platinum status at least (more than 15,000 albums) to recoup its production and marketing costs.

Although last year's winner, Ben Lummis, scored triple platinum status (more than 45,000 copies) with his debut album, he was later dropped from the label and his album is now languishing in record shop bargain bins.

New Zealand taxpayers are also supporting the show, through funding of $450,000 given to its producers by government agency NZ On Air, which will also chip in a further grant toward the cost of producing the album and video.

The talent show's voting system has been constantly criticised as being too easily manipulated by faction voting.

"The problem with NZ Idol is that the whole concept is that it will be a wonderful launch into the music industry, but it doesn't have any credibility in the music industry," said Martin Bradbury, editor of music magazine Rip It Up.

The same problems have also dogged international versions of the show, with few winners achieving the promised stardom.

In the US version, only first-time winner Kelly Clarkson has consistently produced top 10 hits.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY