Australian Idol was a televised talent contest, screened on Channel Ten for seven seasons between 2003 and 2009. Several contestants were signed to record labels, while others released their music independently. Since 2003 Australian Idol acts have placed well on the Australian music charts, with 35 number ones and 158 platinum and 41 gold certifications. Eight Idol releases appeared in the 2000 – 2009 ARIA End of Decade Charts, and 24 releases have been nominated for Highest Selling ARIA Music Awards. Idol contestants have also been nominated for 33 ARIA Awards in public vote categories, where the nominees are most commonly selected from the highest selling acts of the year. There have also been 48 industry judged ARIA Award nominations. To date there have been 11 wins in sales and public vote categories, and in 2013 season one winner Guy Sebastian and season four runner up Jessica Mauboy became the first Idol contestants to win industry voted ARIA Awards.
"So What" is a song recorded by American singer Pink for her fifth studio album, Funhouse (2008). The song was written by Pink, Max Martin, and Shellback, and produced by Martin. Selected as the album's lead single, "So What" was first released to mainstream radios on August 25, 2008, through LaFace and Zomba Label Group. The song consists of a martial beat and synth backing. The lyrics are based on her separation from motocross racer Carey Hart, which occurred six months prior to the release.
Stan Walker is an Australian-born New Zealand singer, actor, and television personality. In 2009, Walker was the winner of the seventh and last season of Australian Idol. He subsequently signed a recording contract with Sony Music Australia. In December 2009, Walker released his debut studio album, Introducing Stan Walker, which included the hit single, "Black Box". The album debuted at number three on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). It also appeared on the New Zealand Albums Chart at number two and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ).
"Always Be Here" is a song by New Zealand singer-songwriter Dane Rumble. It was released by Rumble Music on 16 February 2009 as the first single from his debut solo studio album, The Experiment (2010). "Always Be Here" was the first song that Rumble wrote for The Experiment that he liked. A pop rock and synth rock song, it discusses the dilemma of balancing a busy work schedule and a romantic relationship.
"Black Box" is the debut single by season seven winner of Australian Idol, Stan Walker. It was released digitally on 22 November 2009, as the lead single from his debut studio album, Introducing... Stan Walker. Blue covered this song for their new album Roulette.
Introducing... Stan Walker is the debut studio album by season seven Australian Idol winner, Stan Walker. It was released through Sony Music Australia via its RCA Records label on 7 December 2009. The album contained the selected songs Walker performed during the top twelve on Australian Idol, as well as the two original songs, "Black Box" and "Think of Me". The album debuted at number two on the New Zealand Albums Chart and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ). It also appeared on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart at number three and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Preceding the album's release, lead single "Black Box" was released for digital download on 22 November 2009. The song appeared on the singles charts of Australia and New Zealand at numbers two and one, respectively.
The Experiment is the first solo studio album by New Zealand singer-songwriter Dane Rumble. Released by Rumble Music and Warner Music on 29 March 2010, it follows two years after the split of his hip hop group Fast Crew. Rumble found it difficult to write music for himself, and therefore deviated to the pop rock genre. The Experiment includes elements of dance-pop and pop rap, and lyrically focusses on personal issues. Rumble produced the album with Jonathan Campbell. In July 2010 Rumble embarked on The Edge Winter Jam: The Experiment Tour, which had him perform in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
"Unbroken" is a song performed by Australian-New Zealand recording artist Stan Walker. Written and produced by OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder, the song was released by Sony Music Australia on 12 April 2010 as the lead single from Walker's second album, From the Inside Out. Walker felt privileged to record a song written by Tedder and complimented him, "He's the man, one of the best songwriters and producers in the world. I am so blessed." The piano-based pop ballad received a mixed response from critics.
From the Inside Out is the second studio album by Australian-New Zealand recording artist Stan Walker, released on 20 August 2010 through Sony Music Australia. Walker worked with several record producers and songwriters for the album, including Audius Mtawarira, Israel Cruz, Ryan Tedder, Phil Tan and Stuart Crichton, among others. Musically, the album incorporates synthpop, rock, soul and R&B genres.
"Choose You" is a song by Australian-New Zealand recording artist Stan Walker, released as the second single from his second studio album, From the Inside Out, on 20 July 2010. The pop, R&B song was written by Stuart Crichton, Carl Dimataga and Cassie Davis, with the latter also handling its production with Stuart Crichton and Phil Tan. "Choose You" received positive reviews from music critics, who complimented its stomping beats and noted that it was radio-friendly. On the New Zealand Singles Chart, the song peaked at number three and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ). It also peaked at number 16 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). An accompanying music video was directed by Marc Furmie and was released on 5 August 2010. It features Walker having to choose between his former girlfriend or his music career.
The discography of Anika Moa, a New Zealand pop singer-songwriter, consists of four studio albums, twelve solo singles, three charity singles, and fifteen music videos. Moa was a finalist in the 1998 national Smokefreerockquest, and was subsequently signed to record labels Warner Music and Atlantic Records. She recorded her debut album, Thinking Room, in New York City, which was released in 2001. It focussed on the genre of pop, with elements of folk music, and hosted the singles "Youthful", "Good in My Head", "Falling in Love Again" and "Mother". "Falling in Love Again" provided Moa with her first chart success in Australia, reaching number sixty-one on the Australian Singles Chart. Thinking Room topped the New Zealand Albums Chart and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ). Stolen Hill, Moa's second studio effort, was released in 2005 and featured a darker tone, with Moa incorporating influences of rhythm and blues and swing music. The album was certified gold by the RIANZ.
The 2010 New Zealand Music Awards was the 45th holding of the annual ceremony featuring awards for musical artists based in or originating from New Zealand. Finalists for the three technical awards were announced on 16 August 2010 with winners announced on 1 September, the date on which finalists for 16 'non-technical' categories were revealed. Five 'non-technical' awards were presented without a group of finalists being selected. The awards ceremony took place on 7 October 2010 at Vector Arena, Auckland. Hosted by television presenter Shannon Ryan and comedian Ben Hurley, the ceremony was broadcast on television channel C4. Various musicians, most of whom had been nominated for awards, performed songs on the awards night.
The Radio Airplay Record of the Year is an Aotearoa Music Award presented annually to songs by local artists that receive high airplay. It was first presented in 2004 to Goldenhorse for "Maybe Tomorrow". No award was presented in 2005, but in 2006 it was reintroduced, with The Feelers claiming it for their single "Stand Up". Brooke Fraser's "Deciphering Me" followed in 2007, while Opshop won the award in 2008 with "Maybe". In 2009, "Always on My Mind", by Tiki Taane, was awarded the title. Stan Walker twice won the award two years in a row — in 2010 with "Black Box" and in 2011 with "Choose You", and again with "Take It Easy" in 2013 and "Bulletproof" in 2014.
"Loud" is a song performed by Australian-New Zealand recording artist Stan Walker. The song was released as a digital download on 6 May 2011 as the lead single from his third studio album, Let the Music Play.
"Light It Up" is a song by New Zealand recording artist Stan Walker, which features American DJ, Static Revenger. It was released for digital download on 16 September 2011, as the second single from Walker's third studio album, Let the Music Play. The song was written by Dennis White, John Locke, Charissa Saverio and Jon Asher, and was produced by Static Revenger.
Let the Music Play is the third studio album by Australian-New Zealand recording artist Stan Walker, released through Sony Music Australia on 18 November 2011. Walker worked with several record producers on the album, including Richard Vission, Chico Bennett, Nicholas "RAS" Furlong and Static Revenger, among others. The album featured several guest vocalists, including Jessica Mauboy, Annabel Fay and Walker's mother April, who is featured in a remake of Eva Cassidy's version of "Songbird". Musically, the album features more up-tempo dance-pop and R&B genres than Walker's previous album, From the Inside Out (2010), which included deep and emotional tracks.
"Good Night" is the debut single by British-Australian recording artist Reece Mastin, who won the third series of The X Factor (Australia) in 2011. It was released digitally on 22 November 2011, shortly after the show ended, as the lead single from his self-titled debut album. The song was written by Hayley Warner with Anthony Egizii and David Musumeci of the songwriting and production duo DNA Songs. "Good Night" received mixed to positive reviews from music critics, most of whom noted its similarities to Pink's "Raise Your Glass" (2010). The song debuted at number one on the ARIA Singles Chart, and became the first number-one winner's single for The X Factor (Australia). It was certified five times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting sales of 350,000 copies. "Good Night" also peaked at number one in New Zealand and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ).
"Holding You" is a song by New Zealand singer-songwriter Ginny Blackmore and Australian–New Zealand recording artist Stan Walker. It was released as a single by Sony Music Entertainment on 4 April 2014.
"Aotearoa" is a song by New Zealand recording artist Stan Walker featuring Ria Hall, Troy Kingi and Maisey Rika. It was released as a single through Sony Music Australia on 21 July 2014. "Aotearoa" peaked at number two on the New Zealand Singles Chart.
Stuart Crichton is a music producer/songwriter from Scotland, currently based in Los Angeles, California.
