Sony snaps up Dean and Jess

By Richard Clune

December 10, 2006 12:00

AUSTRALIAN Idol runner-up Jessica Mauboy and heart-throb Dean Geyer have secured lucrative recording contracts.

Two weeks after Irish-born singer-songwriter Damien Leith claimed victory at the Sydney Opera House, Mauboy and Geyer have been signed up by record label Sony BMG.

"I'm pleased to confirm we have signed Jessica and Dean,'' Sony BMG chief executive Denis Handlin told The Sunday Telegraph.

"They are tremendously talented kids, and we're excited about their futures.''

Handlin also hinted that crooner Bobby Flynn might soon be signed to the label.

"Bobby certainly hasn't been overlooked, and is definitely on our radar,'' he said.

Although Mauboy and Geyer maintained low profiles last week, allowing Leith to enjoy his triumphant spotlight, both are expected to release singles early in the new year.

Geyer said he was thrilled to secure the Sony recording contract.

"As everyone knows, this is all I've ever wanted, it's all I've thought about, every day since I finished school and now to finally have got there is just a dream come true,'' he said.

"Idol was a lot of hard work, obviously, and it feels fantastic to get some reward at the end of that. I feel really lucky.''

Geyer said he was itching to get into the recording studio as soon as possible.

"The studio is one of the best places in the world, it's a place where you can just be yourself and express all the ideas and the emotions that you've always wanted to,'' he said.

But Handlin said: "We're going to be patient and not rush into releasing albums. "They'll have singles out in the new year, with albums to follow.

"I'd say we're looking at the middle of next year for their albums to come out.''

The decision not to flood the pre-Christmas music market with Idol contestants is a change of tack for Sony BMG.

Previous winners have had to record albums during the weeks between the program's November conclusion and Christmas.

Handlin hopes the time afforded Leith, Mauboy and Geyer will bolster their career longevity.

"We're giving them more time because we want them to have both credibility and longevity in this industry,'' he said.

Handlin believes Mauboy and Geyer appeal to a varied demographic, and says they will be heavily involved in the creation of their music.

"Jess and Dean have ideas about what they want to do with their music, which we're definitely keen to encourage,'' he said.

"They want to do some of their own writing and we're certainly open to that.''

Mauboy and Geyer are expected to follow Leith's success in the music charts.

His debut single, Night Of My Life, finished the week at number one and could become the fastest-selling debut single of the year.

Not content with one release in a week, a CD-DVD package of Leith's Idol experience, Damien Leith - The Winner's Journey, hit the shelves on Thursday.

http://www.news.com.au/sundaytelegraph/sto...5001026,00.html

Great news for them.


Im also glad that they havent done to Casey what they did with Anthony by releasing a single and not letting her get the attention.
It was such a sales thing though.
We all know he would have sold them no matter when he released it. They should have waited until the new year so Im glad they are waiting this time.

:D

They did exactly the same with Kate and Lee...yet no one ever seems to recall that....

D'you know, poor Anthony copped so much flack from that, and still is paying for it in some ways, and it wasn't his decision. :(

That's right, I remember Wasabi in my face everywhere I went. No one seemed to have anything to say about that decision. :rolleyes:

Wasnt it released after Christmas though.
I could be wrong cos I dont remember clearly

No, he was no 1 on the 19 December. :)