Kiwi music stars snub NZ Idol

The judges of NZ Idol have hit out at some of the country's leading musicians, accusing them of "musical snobbery" for bagging the hit television show.

Despite the worldwide popularity of Idol and the hundreds of millions of dollars it has generated internationally, the New Zealand version of the popular reality show has failed to attract top Kiwi acts like Dave Dobbyn, Boh Runga and the Finn brothers.

Dobbyn claimed Idol was a "television gameshow" and said "I'm just not a fan of it".

"That doesn't make me a snob. I'm just not interested in it."

And Runga told the Herald on Sunday that she would rather "lick the inside of a toilet bowl than appear on Idol".

For his part, Neil Finn said he wasn't sure why he was being portrayed as "anti-Idol" but suspected that "the programme makers were trying to beat up a story to improve ratings".

He said he did not approve of his songs being used in the show because of an "unsettling moment" on stage last year, where during a performance of History Never Repeats, he was "suddenly overwhelmed by the image of [season one winner and runner-up] Ben [Lummis] and Michael [Murphy] performing it on Idol".

"It was a strangely unsettling moment, and I had to rest the song for a while after that."

As a result, a Split Enz special showcasing the band's music, which had been planned for this season, was canned after the Finn brothers refused to front the tribute show.

Last week, an angry Frankie Stevens, Iain Stables and Megan Alatini said they were tired of the attitude of artists like Dobbyn, Anika Moa and Runga. The judging trio also took a swipe at Sony BMG, who last year withdrew its support for Idol after previously providing the winning idol with a record deal.

Said Stevens: "Music all around the world is based on talent shows. Idol around the world is supported by record companies, and while the show is not considered hugely legitimate in the music industry, it is a commercial tool they should be using. Who's to say these kids won't be the future Neil Finns or Dave Dobbyns? Who's to say that because they are singing cover songs in a show like Idol they are not going to write a song like Nature?"

Stables blamed "rock snobs" like Graham Brazier who he said were hung up on "bullshit ideas" of musical authenticity.

"For me, I have a problem with the Graham Braziers of the world who say you can't win idol status, you have to earn it. That's great, Graham. You've sat in Raglan for the past 12 years and done sweet bugger all, and yet you are the one pointing the finger.

"When was the last time you came out, hung your nuts out and had a hit on the air? Graham is another New Zealand has-been that travels the country and no one never really gives a toss.

"The attitude of these guys is that to go on something mainstream might seem a little uncool, because they are not being seen in the right place at the right time, and they are trying very hard to be overly intelligent and articulate and savvy, when really they're just boring idiots," Stables said.

Alatini agreed: "I would love to sit down with some of those industry people and look them in the eye and ask them what this is all about. We all have to start somewhere, and it doesn't matter where you start."

In the United States, Idol has been a commercial and cultural phenomenon, steamrolling virtually every show in its path. Production company Fremantle has sold Idol in more than 100 countries - and the franchise has sold more than 19 million albums and 4.5 million singles since the series debuted.

And increasingly, established performers like Elton John and Stevie Wonder are appearing on the show, with their appearances leading to a spike in album sales.

NZ Idol executive producer Gavin Wood believes there is no responsibility on the part of the music industry to grow young artists.

All that many of them needed was a vote of confidence from the established artists, he said.

Runga said she didn't watch Idol and never would. Idol was not about good music, it was more about embarrassing people on national television, she said.

However, Tim Finn told the Herald on Sunday that he did not have an issue with NZ Idol.

He was a fan of talent quest shows, and did not have a problem with NZ Idol using his solo tracks.

Open invitation

Memo to Dave Dobbyn, The Feelers, Shihad, Evermore and Boh Runga: "You are cordially invited to appear on NZ Idol, where we will pay tribute to your vast musical talent. Please RSVP to Frankie Stevens, Iain Stables and Megan Alatini."

That's the open invitation to five of the country's leading musical talents from the three NZ Idol judges - a chance, they say, to prove once and for all that these artists are not "musical snobs". Stevens went one step further: "I challenge my fellow artists to come out of the closet and say 'I support NZ Idol'. I wish they would give some genuine support to the show and these kids, who have a dream like they once did." He said he rated Dobbyn as one of the three top Kiwi songwriters of all time, and Idol would love to have a show dedicated to his music.