Indonesian Idol

Indonesian Idol is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia Asia, which began airing on RCTI on March 2004 and became one of the most popular shows in the history of Indonesian elevision. Part of the Idol franchise, it was as a spin-off from the UK show Pop Idol.

The concept of the series is to find new solo recording artists where the winner is determined by the viewers. Through telephone and SMS text voting, viewers have chosen as winners Joy Tobing, Mike Mohede, Ihsan Tarore, Rini Wulandari, Aris Runtuwene, Igo Pentury and Regina Ivanova (listed in chronological order).

The series employs a panel of judges who critique the contestants' performances. The original four judges were AMI Awards-winning Jazz musician Indra Lesmana, AMI Awards-winning pop singer Titi DJ, Radio announcer and presenter Meuthia Kasim and video director Dimas Djayadiningrat. The judging panel currently consists of musician and solo singer Anang Hermansyah, musician and artist manager Ahmad Dhani and 1 person judge is still a secret identity. Other judges who have been a part of the show are television presenter Indy Barends, MTV video jockey and comedian Jamie Aditya, musician and conductor Erwin Gutawa, Indonesian Superstar Agnes Monica and hits-maker Ahmad Dhani.

The show was originally hosted by radio DJ Amelia Natasha and TV host Irgi Ahmad Fahrezy. In 2006, Daniel Mananta replaced Irgi as the main host and Dewi Sandra replaced Ata in 2008. Since 2010, Daniel Mananta was the only host for this program.

Indonesian Idol won the 2005 and 2006 Panasonic Awards for the Best Music Variety Show. It also defeated its rival, Akademi Fantasi Indosiar, known locally as AFI, but in 2004 AFI won the Best Reality Show award in Panasonic Awards 2004. Singapore Tourism Board also rewarded Indonesian Idol Season 1 by inviting the Top 11 contestants of to the American Idol World Tour there. Joy, the winner of season 1, was the opening singer of the concert.

But after the fifth season, the event was discontinued because of declining ratings, and resumed its sixth season in 2010. The seventh season was held in 2012 and rapidly became the most successful season in the history of Indonesian Idol. Originally planned to be replace by UK hit The X Factor in 2013, the future of Indonesian Idol is now under discussion.


Judges and hosts

The show had originally four judges, namely Indra Lesmana, Titi DJ, Meuthia Kasim and Dimas Djayadiningrat aka Dimas Djay. In season three, Radio announcer and presenter Indy Barends replaced Meuthia Kasim because of Meuthia's health. Indy stayed only for one season and left the show before season four. In season four, MTV video jockey and comedian Jamie Aditya replaced Indy Barends and musician and solo singer Anang Hermansyah replaced Dimas Djay who left the panel after three seasons. In season five, Jamie left the panel and only three judges, Indra, Titi and Anang were the judges. In 2010, Indra Lesmana and Titi DJ left the panel and replaced by musician and conductor Erwin Gutawa and Indonesian Superstar Agnes Monica. And in 2012, the last season of Indonesian Idol, Anang Hermansyah and Agnes Monica return as judges, while musician and hits-maker Ahmad Dhani replaced Erwin Gutawa in the panel.

Guest judges may occasionally be introduced. In season one, guest judge was Krisdayanti. In season two, Yovie Widianto replaced Dimas Djay and Ahmad Dhani replaced Meuthia Kasim in any cities audition. In season four, in several times Titi DJ replaced by Tika Panggabean in Spectacular show. In season six, alternately Rossa, Melly Goeslaw, Ahmad Dhani, Charly Van Houten, Pasha and Armand Maulana were the guest judges in spectacular show. Guest judges were used in the audition rounds for seasons five, six and seven, such as Rio Febrian, Melly Goeslaw, Nugie, and Yovie Widianto in season five, Rossa in season six Melly Goeslaw, Ahmad Dhani, Hedy Yunus, Andien and Nina Tamam in season seven. The two season first was presented by Amelia Natasha aka Ata and Irgi Ahmad Fahrezy. Irgi quit after the second season and replaced by Daniel Mananta. In season five, Ata left the show and replaced by pop singer Dewi Sandra. Since season six, only Daniel Mananta was the host of this show.