JD Springbett, a Sony Music A&R rep turned Australian Idol judge, has been found dead in his Sydney flat. The UK born svengali, who moved to Australia in 2004, had been involved in the ‘careers’ of such celebrated record company failures as Jessica Mauboy and Human Nature. While the nature of his death is unclear, police say that there are no suspicious circumstance.
Springbett was found dead in his Woolloomooloo flat surrounded by stubbies of beer and prescription drugs. Party boy Springbett, who had been romantically linked to a number of his female acts, had split from his wife, publicist Louisa McCole, earlier this year. While the split is believed to have troubled him he remained a devoted father to his young daughters, Jasmin & Marley. He was believed to have told friends “My babies are the best thing I’ve ever done.”
Springbett was believed to have alarmed friends and family in recent weeks, with erratic and ‘out of character’ behaviour including joining a gun club. He’d been in the process of moving from a full time A&R gig at Sony to an external label and artist management deal at the same time, although according to Sony he hadn’t been sacked and was ‘still part of the family’.
He’d apparently secured famed international songwriter Diane Warren to write a tune to kickstart Jessica Mauboy’s flailing career, while according to Sony boss Denis Handlin “He also found a great song for Nat Bass to do during the X Factor season coming up. He was in really great form.”
