Through telephone calls, SMS text, and the RCTI+ app voting, viewers have chosen 12 winners to date: Joy Tobing, Mike Mohede, Ihsan Tarore, Rini Wulandari, Januarisman, Igo Pentury, Regina Ivanova, Nowela Auparay, Maria Simorangkir, Lyodra Ginting, Rimar Callista, and Salma Salsabil (listed in chronological order).

The judges of the inaugural season were jazz musician Indra Lesmana, pop diva Titi DJ, radio personality Meuthia Kasim, and film director Dimas Djayadiningrat.

The judging panels in the following seasons included TV hosts Indy Barends and Jamie Aditya, composer Erwin Gutawa, musicians Ahmad Dhani, Anang Hermansyah, and Maia Estianty; and singers Agnez Mo, Armand Maulana, Tantri Syalindri, Rossa, Ari Lasso, Bunga Citra Lestari, David Bayu, and Indonesian Idol season 2 runner-up Judika.

The show originally had four judges, namely jazz musician Indra Lesmana, Indonesian pop singer Titi DJ, radio personality Meuthia Kasim, and film director Dimas Djayadiningrat [id].

In 2010, Indra Lesmana and Titi DJ left the panel and were replaced by composer and conductor Erwin Gutawa and singer–actress Agnes Monica.

In 2012, Anang Hermansyah and Agnes Monica returned as judges, while a frontman of Dewa 19—musician, composer, and hits-maker music producer Ahmad Dhani—replaced Erwin Gutawa.

In season two, musician, music producer, composer, and songwriter Yovie Widianto [id][1] replaced Dimas Djay.

In season four, Titi DJ was replaced several times by comedian, actress, radio host, and singer Tika Panggabean[3] in the Spectacular Show.

However, when Boy William was tested positive for COVID-19 at the end of December 2020, until mid-January 2021, Daniel Mananta returned to be guest host.

There are 2 rounds of auditions which usually take place in large convention halls where thousands of people waited in line.

Four of the eliminated contestants were chosen by the judges and two of them, one male and one female, were given a place in the Spectacular Show based on the result of an audience vote.

Not so long after her victory, Joy released her first album, Terima Kasih (Thank You), including her new single, most notable as her coronation song, "Karena Cinta".

[11] After the show, the top 10 finalists (minus Helena Andrian, who withdrew from participation due to a contract problem) had a tour around Indonesia.

[16] Before Joy left, Helena also resigned from Indonesian Idol[17][18] and released her first solo album in 2005, titled Keajaiban Cinta.

Pop singer Ruth Sahanaya made a surprise appearance for Mike and Judika when they sang her song, "Tak Kuduga".

Ronald Silitonga, Wisnu, Danar Indra, and Top 8 of Season 3 contestant Sisi Hapsari have formed a Christian music group called Awaken, which had mild success singing Indonesian gospel.

In 2017, Top 12 finalist Danar Indra confirmed, through his fan page, that he would release his first Christian Contemporary album and work with the keyboardist of Tompi and Trio Lestari.

Following the success of his debut album, he released a recycled CCM song: "Kau Sangat Ku Cinta", written by Franky Sihombing, in an acoustic version.

In 2020, Danar teamed with The Voice Indonesia semi-finalist Jims Wong, to release a sophomore single, "Rencana-Mu", featuring Viona Paays.

In 2022, Danar teamed with a Christian worship leader and former vocalist of Lifetree, Franky Kuncoro, to release a recycled song: "Pilihan Yang Terbaik", in both studio and live versions, which aired on Revivo Channel.

Since the show ended, Dirly and Gea have debuted their acting career in a TV drama called Idola (Idol), which was aired on RCTI every Mondays at 8 pm.

Indra Lesmana and Titi DJ returned as judges while Indy Barends and Dimas Djayadiningrat were replaced by Anang Hermansyah and Jamie Aditya.

Another change in the format, which was revealed in the fourth week of the Spectacular Show, is the one-time veto power for the judges to save a contestant who was eliminated by the viewers' votes.

Both Dharmawan and Sims worked closely to free the show of heavy-handed gimmicks that had bogged down previous seasons, and to dramatically lift production values.

Still using the same but slightly improved formula in producing, Fabian invested heavily in the judges' chemistry and the raw talents of the contestants.

After the previous, 2014 season of Indonesian Idol, FremantleMedia presented a new breakthrough singing contest, namely Just Duet, created alongside NET.

However, as both had disappointing ratings, RCTI and FremantleMedia brought back Indonesian Idol for the ninth season after a three-year hiatus.

The judges for this season were Ari Lasso, Armand Maulana [id], Bunga Citra Lestari, Judika, and Maia Estianty.

The panel of judges for this season were Ari Lasso, Anang Hermansyah, Bunga Citra Lestari, Judika and Maia Estianty.

The cities scheduled to hold auditions were Medan, Bandung, Denpasar, Yogyakarta, Flores, Kupang, Samarinda, Manado, Lombok, Malang, Surabaya, and Jakarta.