Keith Urban to host weekend radio show with smoothfm

Radio-bound: Keith Urban will be hitting the airwaves for smoothfm. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

 

The Daily Telegraph reports

He’s a music star, a TV star and now Keith Urban has his sights set on radio.

The ARIA and Grammy Award-winning country singer will guest host an hour long weekend show on Australian radio station smoothfm for several weeks starting from September 7.

The station is thrilled about the coup.

"We are thrilled to have someone of the calibre of Keith Urban on our weekend line-up. Our listeners love him and smoothfm is the station in Sydney and Melbourne who truly and passionately support his music," program director Rohan Brown said in a statement on Wednesday.

Urban endeared himself to Australian audiences as a coach on last year's hit series The Voice Australia and is currently a judge on American Idol.

He will release his highly anticipated seventh album Fuse on September 13.

Urban will be heard on smoothfm 91.5 in Melbourne and smoothfm 95.3 in Sydney on Saturday mornings from September 7 through to mid-October.

Axed Keith Urban still loves American Idol

Keith Urban faces the axe from American Idol but still praises the show Source: Supplied

Zoe Nauman, The Daily Telegraph, reports

He's facing the axe as a judge on American Idol, but that hasn't stopped Keith Urban waxing lyrical about what a good platform the show is for aspiring artists - despite its disappointing US ratings.

Although audiences have plummeted to a low of 11 million in the US - which is positively dismal for a program which used to draw 30 million - Urban says it can still provide singers with a springboard to stardom as long as they put in the work.

"Certainly over the years Idol has produced some great voices," Urban tells Insider, "a pretty good solid amount of artists who have had good careers.

"For anyone who has talent it is still an incredible platform to get out there and be seen."

Urban says regardless of what the performers do after leaving the show, their career is better than when they started. "The point is that these guys have to do something with this," he says.

"Winners of this show have gone on to not do anything, and those who haven't done so well have gone to do amazing things. The show alone is not going to make a star.

"You have to have that work ethic as well."

The finale of the reality singing show, which was once nicknamed The Death Star by critics because of its huge numbers in the US, airs on Ten this Friday.

Urban quit the Australian ratings juggernaut The Voice to join American Idol.

Insiders say Fox is bitterly disappointed with this season's performance, and despite Urban and fellow judges Nicki Minaj, Randy Jackson and Mariah Carey all having repeat options on their contracts, they will not be renewed.

"All four are gone. They feel they've lost their core audience and they want it back," a source says. The plan is to revamp the show to bring in a younger audience.

American Idol bombs in US, but Ten claims they're happy with local result

The big salaries paid to this year's Idol judges don't look like they've paid off in the season debut. Picture: AP Source: AP

The Daily Telegraph reports

Throwing millions of dollars of cash at hosts Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey and Keith Urban hasn't paid off for American Idol producers with the show recording its lowest ratings for a debut episode ever.

Audiences for the season premiere were down 19 per cent on last year's launch episode, which was the previous lowest-ever ratings.

Mariah Carey was paid a rumoured $17 million for her second year on the show, while Nicki Minaj reportedly landed $12 million and Keith Urban, $4 million.

The same episode also premiered on Aussie TV screens last night five hours after it aired in the US to an audience of 539,000, with Ten fast-tracking it to screens before the official ratings period begins.

A Ten spokesperson told Mumbrella that they were happy with the result.

“We’re pleased with how it has started, pleased enough to move it to an earlier timeslot.”

But Emma Ashton, editor of reality TV blog, Reality Ravings, doesn't agree.

"Network Ten would slightly disappointed about the ratings for the start of American Idol considering it is the first big name show to start this year," Ashton told news.com.au.

"They would be hoping Keith Urban who gained a massive following this year on The Voice would lure viewers in."

Editor of TVTonight.com.au, David Knox says the show is no match for The Voice.

"It's not exactly a spectacular start, even accounting for the tough competition for the tennis," he told news.com.au.

"There will be some initial curiosity surrounding Keith Urban but after that it will need to survive on its own terms. It may help Ten's struggling Fridays and lift in its closing stages but this is no contest for The Voice."

Ten had taken out multiple full-page advertisements and heavily promoted the program before its debut.

Seven News was the most watched program for the night with 1.19m, Nine News second (1.14m) Today Tonight third and (1.01m) A Current Affair fourth (960k).

930,000 tuned in to watch the Australian Open tennis coverage on Seven.

American Idol has been largely on a downward trend since 2009 due to fatigue with the concept, an abundance of television talent shows such as The Voice and America's Got Talent.

Some have suggested that the much-publicised sniping between hosts Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj has been a turn off.

Nicki Minaj describes Keith Urban as 'perfect' and calming

 

Singer Nicki Minaj. Source: The Daily Telegraph

Kathy McCabe, The Daily Telegraph, reports

Nicki Minaj has proclaimed fellow American Idol judge Keith Urban as "perfect".

The controversial hip-pop princess who clashed with the Queen of Divas, Mariah Carey, said Urban had proven to be "the calm in the midst of the storm".

"He's very handsome and he's very sweet and he is very respectful to his wife," Minaj said. "And yes, he is calming."

Minaj, who brings her Pink Friday Reloaded tour to the Sydney Entertainment Centre on November 30, said she had been surprised by her clash with Carey.

"To be honest, I thought we would have lots of laughs."

Keith Urban's exit kickstarts search for replacement on The Voice Australia

The race is now on for a new judge to replace Keith Urban after he confirmed he was leaving The Voice Australia. Picture: Channel 9 Source: Supplied

Holly Byrnes, News Limited Network, reports

Will it be another Nashville twang, the laddish tone of a Brit or perhaps a hip-hop American sound?

Just who will replace Australian country star Keith Urban on The Voice Australia emerged a star search series in itself yesterday, after the Grammy winner pulled the plug on returning to the Channel 9 blockbuster and prepares to ink a deal on a revamped American Idol.

His exit was no surprise to the local and TV music industries, with Urban expected to confirm a new $4 million contract to star alongside Mariah Carey, Nicky Minaj and Randy Jackson on the rival US singing reboot.

While the Caboolture crooner's defection is a blow to Nine, the race has opened up for his replacements, with The Voice USA's Blake Shelton, Brit bad boy Robbie Williams and Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am believed to be early targets by producers.

With Seal, Delta Goodrem and Joel Madden reportedly locked in for season two, finding the right personality to balance the coaching ranks is the hottest casting challenge on Australian TV.

Production insiders yesterday ruled out Team Keith mentor Darren Hayes for any promotion to the main red chair, as well as bookmakers' favourite Shannon Noll.

Nine's Mornings co-host David Campbell won a massive Twitter following for his father Jimmy Barnes to score the gig, with the Cold Chisel frontman known to be up for the job.

Also believed to be on the wish list is Coldplay's Chris Martin, Kanye West and Foo Fighter Dave Grohl (although tour commitments and his public dislike of talent shows would make his signing the coup of the century).

Claiming honouring Aussie status and flying the femme flag, Pink was also among replacement whispers, with the original pop princess Kylie Minogue also linked.

The role proved a lucrative platform for Urban, who leveraged the popularity of the program into album sales - hitting number one in Australia for the first time, at the competition's on-air peak.

A grateful Urban said: "As much as I'd love to do it again, it's clear that the recording and promoting of a new album, a tour and other commitments, will keep me from being a part of the second season.

"To everyone who sang on the show, I thank you, you've inspired not just me, but countless others. To everyone behind the scenes and to my on-camera family Darren, Delta, Joel and Seal, thank you for making it so much fun. Keep watching Australia!''

Poachers pursue Keith Urban

Reports suggest Keith Urban is being wooed by American Idol. Source: Supplied

The Daily Telegraph reports

Could The Voice be about to lose one of their favourite judges? Reports out of the US at the weekend suggest the hit Channel 9 show could be set for a panel reshuffle, with Keith Urban being wooed to join the cast of American Idol.

The country music superstar - who recently plonked down a bundle on a second apartment in Milson's Point with wife Nicole Kidman - is thought to be at the top of the NBC wish list following the departure of Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler.

Idol producers recently signed Mariah Carey as the new "head" judge and the diva is rumoured to have "first approval" over the choice of her new co-stars.

TV sources say Urban is a prime candidate following his success on The Voice.

Joe Jonas is also being looked at to fill a "pop star" role and a Latino performer is also being sought after.

Country favourite Reba McEntire was originally offered the job but turned it down. Channel 9 are currently re-negotiating with Urban, Seal, Joel Madden and Delta Goodrem for a second season of the sing-off show.

There was no confirmation yesterday on what stage the negotiations are at.