NEW LiSTNR PODCAST EXPOSES THE SECRET FORMULA THAT POWERS OUR TV MUSIC TALENT SHOWS

“…the bad singers, we were directed to keep them, that was part of the format, not a part of my career that I’m proud of, to ridicule somebody who clearly doesn’t have talent is just cruel.” Stephen Tate, former Australian Idol Executive Producer

It’s a seductive dream factory: ordinary Australians with musical talent offered the opportunity to become overnight stars via a TV talent show. 

But a new LiSTNR podcast documentary The Moment It Changed: Touchdown lifts the lid on the reality of how we’ve been manipulated by blockbuster shows, from Popstars to Australian Idol and The Voice.

Listeners will hear confronting stories of exploitation, deceit and humiliation from former judges, producers and contestants, as well as the extraordinary journeys of those who achieved euphoric fame and success. 

Among those speaking out candidly in the podcast are former Australian Idol judges Mark Holden and Ian “Dicko” Dickson, past winners Dami Im, Casey Donovan, Karise Eden and Katie Underwood, and ex-contestants Rob “Millsy” Mills and Bella Farraro.

The Moment It Changed: Touchdown was produced by respected music journalist Cameron Adams, senior producer Jake Morcom and LiSTNR’s Factual team. The series is hosted by Nic Kelly, a former record label executive, DJ and now co-host of The Hot Hits with Nic & Loren across the Hit Network.

Host, Nic Kelly, said: “I was a huge fan of the original Australian Idol growing up, and reality music TV helped develop my love for music and pop culture in general. But as someone who works in both media and music, I knew what we see on TV isn’t the whole story. I hope some of what we have uncovered will open people’s eyes to what goes into a musician’s choice to appear on these shows, and what could be done to make them more effective for new artists.”

LiSTNR Head of Factual, Clair Weaver, said: “Millions of us have laughed, cheered and cried our way through music talent shows on Australian TV over the past 25 years. But now The Moment It Changed: Touchdown exposes the confronting truth about what happens behind the scenes and how we’ve all been played. This is an important podcast from the LiSTNR Factual team and Nic Kelly brings extraordinary passion, experience and expertise as host.”

For the first time, discover the truth about what really happens behind the scenes of your favourite music reality TV show on The Moment It Changed: Touchdown, listen for free on the LiSTNR app. 

Podcast credits:
Journalist & Producer: Cameron Adams 
Senior Producer: Jake Morcom
Senior Producer: Romy Sher
Producer: Holly Mitchell 
Host: Nic Kelly

Host bio:
Nic Kelly is a passionate advocate for Australian music, and co-host of the Hit Network’s national night show The Hot Hits with Nic & Loren. With over a decade of experience in the music industry, Kelly has hosted various music-focussed shows across the Hit Network, launched Night High Records in collaboration with EMI, and founded leading youth-targeted music media platform Project U. 

About LiSTNR:
LiSTNR is a curated and personalised free app offering radio, podcasts, music, and news for all Australians. Featuring a fun and intuitive onboarding process, LiSTNR delivers an audio destination that is built for individual listeners’ routines and preferences. Highly personalised, it provides listeners a new world of audio entertainment, with their own daily feed of audio and easy discovery of new content through curated recommendations. Available across a large array of devices including both iOS and Android, CarPlay and Android Auto, Google Assistant, Alexa and Android TV, LiSTNR enables a fantastic listening experience, anytime and anywhere. Open your ears to a new world of audio – download the free app today. LiSTNR.com