Latest news with #AustralianIdol
Courier-Mail
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Jury discharged in Guy Sebastian's manager's trial
Don't miss out on the headlines from Music. Followed categories will be added to My News. The jury has been discharged in the trial of Guy Sebastian's former manager Titus Day after they were unable to reach a verdict on more than 30 counts that he allegedly embezzled money from his pop star client. Mr Day was on Tuesday found not guilty of four counts of embezzlement after facing a long-running trial in the NSW District Court. However the jury remained deadlocked on the remaining charges and was on Wednesday discharged by Judge Alister Abadee. Mr Day stood trial in the NSW District Court where he battled allegations he embezzled more than $600,000 in royalties and performance fees from the Australian Idol winner between 2013 and 2020. Since his arrest more than five years ago, Day has denied the allegations and he pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of embezzlement as a clerk or servant. He also pleaded not guilty to one count of attempting to dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception. Guy Sebastian arrives at the Downing Centre Court. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short Titus Day arrives at the Downing Centre Court. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short On Tuesday, the jury returned verdicts finding Day not guilty of four counts of embezzlement. Those four counts related to allegations that he embezzled over $113,000 worth of Mr Sebastian's performance fees relating to a Big Bash game, a wedding, a corporate gig for Harvey Norman and an ambassadorship with Dreamworld. On Tuesday, the court was told that the jury believed they could not come to unanimous verdicts on the remaining counts, but they were encouraged to continue deliberating. Judge Alister Abadee on Tuesday afternoon gave the jury a direction that they could consider an 11-1 verdict on the outstanding 31 counts. However after another day of deliberations, the jury was on Wednesday afternoon discharged because they could not reach verdicts on those remaining counts. It was the second time Mr Day stood trial after he was in 2022 found guilty of 34 counts of embezzlement and acquitted of a further 16 embezzlement counts. He was jailed for a maximum of four years, with a non-parole period of two-and-a-half years. However after serving seven months, he was released from jail after his convictions were quashed by the Court of Criminal Appeal and a re-trial was ordered. He will now appear before the court again on August 18, with the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide whether to proceed with a third trial. Titus Day and Guy Sebastian before their split. Picture: Supplied Mr Day stood trial accused of embezzling over $620,000 in performance fees and royalties by failing to remit the money to Mr Sebastian. Mr Day maintained that some accounting errors were the result of family difficulties at the time which resulted in his attention being elsewhere, and a mistaken belief that some of the money that came into his company's account for Mr Sebastian related to another client. He also held a view that the former Australian Idol winner owed him unpaid commissions, his barrister Thomas Woods told the court during the trial. Mr Woods also told the court that performance fees from the Swift tour were used to purchase shares on Mr Sebastian's behalf. 'It is not implausible that my client made a wrong assumption in relation to these counts in the indictment … That he made a mistake is not fanciful or far fetched,' Mr Woods told the jury. Titus Day (L) arrives at the JMT Downing in Sydney. Picture: Christian Gilles / NewsWire During his closing address to the jury, Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC said Mr Day had fabricated invoices to demand payment from Mr Sebastian. Mr Day denied having fabricated the documents and his barrister Thomas Woods argued the allegation could not be proven and was 'fanciful'. Mr Sebastian first worked with Day while he was with his former talent agency, 22 Management. Mr Sebastian agreed to follow him as a marquee client when Day created his own agency, 6 Degrees Management, in 2009. The court heard that Mr Sebastian was Day's long-time client and friend, however they had a bitter falling out in 2017 after Mr Sebastian raised questions over financial records. Mr Sebastian during his evidence told the court he was happy with Mr Day's management when he first moved into his stable. But tensions arose when he sought information and clarification about payments. Originally published as Jury discharged in Guy Sebastian's manager's trial
Perth Now
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Major update in pop star manager's case
Guy Sebastian's former manager has been found not guilty of four counts of embezzling money from the former pop star. Titus Emanuel Day stood trial in the NSW District Court where he battled allegations he embezzled more than $600,000 in royalties and performance fees from the Australian Idol winner between 2013 and 2020. Since his arrest more than five years ago, Day has denied the allegations and he pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of embezzlement as a clerk or servant. He also pleaded not guilty to one count of attempting to dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception. Guy Sebastian arrives at the Downing Centre Court. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Titus Day arrives at the Downing Centre Court. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia On Tuesday, the jury returned verdicts finding Day not guilty of four counts of embezzlement. Those four counts related to allegations that he embezzled over $113,000 worth of Mr Sebastian's performance fees relating to a Big Bash game, a wedding, a corporate gig for Harvey Norman and an ambassadorship with Dreamworld. The jury on Tuesday rejected the Crown prosecution's version of events relating to those counts. They have been told to continue to deliberate on the remaining 31 counts. Mr Day stood trial accused of embezzling over $620,000 in performance fees and royalties by failing to remit the money to Mr Sebastian. Mr Day maintained that some accounting errors were the result of family difficulties at the time which resulted in his attention being elsewhere, and a mistaken belief that some of the money that came into his company's account for Mr Sebastian related to another client. He also held a view that the former Australian Idol winner owed him unpaid commissions, his barrister Thomas Woods told the court during the trial. Mr Woods also told the court that performance fees from the Swift tour were used to purchase shares on Mr Sebastian's behalf. 'It is not implausible that my client made a wrong assumption in relation to these counts in the indictment … That he made a mistake is not fanciful or far fetched,' Mr Woods told the jury. Titus Day (L) arrives at the JMT Downing in Sydney. Christian Gilles / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia During his closing address to the jury, Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC said Mr Day had fabricated invoices to demand payment from Mr Sebastian. Mr Day denied having fabricated the documents and his barrister Thomas Woods argued the allegation could not be proven and was 'fanciful'. Mr Sebastian first worked with Day while he was with his former talent agency, 22 Management. Mr Sebastian agreed to follow him as a marquee client when Day created his own agency, 6 Degrees Management, in 2009. The court heard that Mr Sebastian was Day's long-time client and friend, however they had a bitter falling out in 2017 after Mr Sebastian raised questions over financial records. Mr Sebastian during his evidence told the court he was happy with Mr Day's management when he first moved into his stable. But tensions arose when he sought information and clarification about payments.
News.com.au
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
What is the best Aussie song of the 21st century?
Guy Sebastian had a front-row seat to pop's takeover of the Australian soundtrack. After decades of dominance, the decline of the rock gods in the 21st century was accelerated by the great disrupter that was Australian Idol, which launched here in 2003. Before hip hop and dance joined the #RockIsOverParty, Idol created overnight superstars including Sebastian, Shannon Noll and Jessica Mauboy. Powderfinger ushered in the new millennium with the sad boy earworm 'My Happiness' but soon Kylie Minogue and Sia, Hilltop Hoods and the Kid Laroi, and Empire of the Sun and Flume claimed cultural supremacy. To celebrate the launch of the new app, we're celebrating the people, places and events we'll never forget from the first quarter of the 21st century by asking for Australia's view. Our 25@25 series will finally put to bed the debates you've been having at the pub and around dinner tables for years – and some that are just too much fun not to include. And the old guard of guitar bands and singer songwriters were not happy about it. When asked why he thinks 'My Happiness' remains rusted onto playlists 25 years after its release, Sebastian cited the country's unflagging love for Powderfinger and Fanning's rock star cool before dropping the truth bomb that 'I don't think Bernard was a fan of me early on'. 'Everyone just loves Powderfinger … and Bernard, he just oozes coolness and he's always stood by his thoughts, he's always stood by his convictions,' he said. 'I remember having a little moment at an ARIAs (awards) and I think he just said a whole bunch of stuff about me because I'd just come off Idol - and I believe it was him and Missy (Higgins) … and I hold no grudges against them. 'Idol was like a real disrupter, and here's someone from Condobolin (Noll) and a furry-haired kid from Adelaide and their albums are just going (vroom) straight away. And then you've got people that have been grinding it out for a long time. So I understood there was reservation to embrace that.' Bernard Fanning, Ian Haug, John Collins and Darren Middleton hanging out in 2010 at the ARIA No.1 Awards. Picture: NCA. The mighty Hilltop Hoods took Aussie hip hop to the masses with The Nosebleed Section. Picture: NCA. Back to the subject at hand - the game-changing Aussie songs of the past 25 years - and Sebastian has a master songwriter's insight into what works with a record six No.1 ARIA hits including his debut single, 'Like It Like That', 'Who's That Girl' and the global hit 'Battle Scars'. He believes My Happiness is embedded in the Aussie soundtrack because it's the ultimate 'campfire song', readily played on an acoustic guitar at your backyard BBQ or house party. He considers it the Aussie Wonderwall. And that's meant as the 'ultimate compliment'. '(Bernard) has just always been a cool rock star and couple that with just really great guitar riffs and melodies, I would say My Happiness became Australia's 'Today is going to be the day that they're going to throw it back to you'. It became the campfire song,' Sebastian said. 'It's one of those songs that's structured and written so well - and yet has such deep subject matter - you want to sing it around a campfire.' Gotye and Kimbra gave us the heartbreak anthem of the quarter century. Picture: Supplied. The same year Sebastian broke records with his post-Idol debut single 'Angels Brought Me Here', another Adelaide act was on the 'hard road' to propelling Aussie hip hop from the underground to the mainstream. Hilltop Hoods was flogged on Triple J and became festival favourites off the back of the party-starting anthem 'The Nosebleed Section', which famously sampled 'People in the Front Row' by American folk singer Melanie Safka. Sebastian, who went on to work with American rap stars including Eve ('Who's That Girl'), 2Chainz ('Mama Ain't Proud) and most notably with Lupe Fiasco on 'Battle Scars', said the Hoods ticked all of the boxes with their breakout hit. 'So what was it about 'Nosebleed Section' that made it go past just hip-hop fans. Well, it's hooky as hell,' he said. 'That flute sample and how they pitched it up ... you're just in awe every time it hits. But it's the icing on the cake to this Eminem-esque kind of flow in the pre-chorus. All the way through the song, you're thinking 'Oh, this section's sick! And this section!' 'And it's something everyone can sing along to. It changed the game for hip-hop here.' Should Sebastian's Battle Scars made it onto the Best Aussie Songs list? Picture: Tim Hunter. Another song featuring a brilliantly executed sample, that conquered the world with its unique sound, and is deserving of being considered one of the Best Aussie Songs of this quarter century, is 'Somebody That I Used To Know' by Gotye and featuring Kimbra, released in 2011. The Grammy-winning anthem about how a break-up turns lovers into strangers is Sebastian's pick - besides one of his own songs, of course - to top the list. Somebody is enjoying another big moment courtesy of being sampled on 'Anxiety,' the latest hit by American rapper Doechii. ''Somebody That I Used To Know' was a worldwide smash and there's not many Aussie artists who have managed to get to No.1 in every single country - it's pretty phenomenal,' Sebastian said. 'Every element of that song was right. It was fresh in the sense it married the kind of alternative execution in the vocal but still made it pop with this ear candy sample of a work by an old Brazilian classical guitarist. Luiz Bonfa.' Cast your vote for the Best Aussie Song in our poll above and if you're more than just a music aficionado take part in the other 25@25 polls below
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Amy Shark's shocking message to a fan who told the singer to ditch her signature top knot bun
Amy Shark has shocked fans after she told a social media troll that she does not care whether he 'lives or dies'. The Australian Idol judge, whose real name is Amy Louise Billings, 39, shared a video on Monday of her performing one of her old songs in her bedroom. A man identified only as 'Rupert' commented critically on the singer's signature bun hairstyle, writing: 'Oh the bun is back ffs get rid of it.' The Australian singer was quick to shut him down in her fiery response. 'I'll have you know that I'm just relaxing at home and my hair is up, so it doesn't go in my food. I also don't give a f**k if you live or die… so there's that,' Amy penned with a shrug emoji. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Some fans were quick to praise the singer's response to the troll. 'Haha! I love whatever is wrong with you,' one commented. 'Get it girl, never get rid of your bun,' added a second. 'Someone call 000, Rupert needs to go to the burns ward,' said another, while one fan simple wrote: 'Wow' in reaction to Amy's words. The ARIA Award-winning artist doubled down on her clapback on Friday as she posted a second video addressing the online interaction. 'This guy wrote a comment to me the other night and trust me I don't read comments, it just happened to pop down while I was on TikTok,' Amy began her video. 'I read it and thought "That's not nice."' 'I mean they all suck and I approve them all because I don't really care. I just replied to him and I absolutely wiped the floor with this guy. She was quick to shut down a social media troll in her comments section 'And now he's all like "Aw but",' she pouted. 'Don't be an a**hole. I'm a bigger one.' It comes after the singer sparked concern among fans last month when she posted a candid and emotional video to TikTok revealing a deeply personal family rift. Amy shocked followers as she opened up about her strained family relationships, saying she doesn't speak to her parents at all – and that the only person she truly cared about has since passed away. 'I don't think anyone on here actually realises just how f**king crazy I could be,' she began in the raw video, staring directly into the camera. 'I don't talk to my parents. Not my mum or my dad. Not even like … like, no one,' she continued. 'The only person that I cared about is dead now. And like, my brothers... We're fine, but he's six years younger than me. So he's not telling me what to do.' Amy then appeared to spiral further as she confessed: 'I could be going f**king crazy, crazy. Like I could do anything. I'm not gonna disappoint anyone.' Amy sparked concern among fans in June after posting a candid and emotional video to TikTok, revealing a deeply personal family rift Reflecting on her upbringing, she added: 'My parents had me when they were like 19 and 20. I found videos - I know what the f**k they were doing.' She concluded the emotional clip with a plea for recognition: 'I just think I need a little more respect from people to be like, wow, Amy turned out pretty good.' The post quickly amassed thousands of views and an outpouring of support, with fans flooding the comments to express concern and solidarity.
Sky News AU
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Casey Donovan unrecognisable in first look at new musical Kimberly Akimbo after admitting new diet ‘isn't easy'
Casey Donovan has offered the first glimpse at her latest stage role in the musical version of Kimberly Akimbo and opened up about her recent weight loss journey. Donovan, who shot to fame after winning Australian Idol at just 16, returned to the stage as Aunt Debra in the new production which premiered at Adelaide's Her Majesty's Theatre on Tuesday. The show, which follows a teenager with a rare genetic condition which makes her age rapidly, will transfer to Melbourne's Art Centre from 26 July for a month-long run. The role comes hot on the heels of Donovan's successful national tour in Sister Act in the lead role originated by Whoopi Goldberg in the iconic film about singing nuns. Donovan's weight loss was noticeable in new promotional material for Kimberly Akimbo shared via her official social media accounts. The 36-year-old recently lost a significant amount of weight after overhauling her lifestyle, including the use of a GLP-1 weight loss medication Juniper. GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Juniper help regulate appetite and are increasingly being used in medical weight loss programs. The beloved songstress regularly shares updates with her followers about her weight loss journey, including her favourite healthy recipes to beat junk food cravings. 'This journey isn't always easy, but I've never had to figure it out alone,' Donovan wrote recently on social media. 'So grateful for the steady support from my @ health coach Emily.' Casey's new gig comes after the singer revealed the moment she decided to embark on her health journey. 'I'm 36 now and I finally realised that, if I want to be healthy and fit at 40, I need to take some real and lasting preventative measures now,' she told New Idea magazine last month. Donovan also told the magazine that she was hoping to start a family with her fiancée Renee Sharples in the 'semi-near future', revealing she was "in such a good place in my life right now".
