'Australian Idol' judge found dead in hotel room

Jay Dee Springbett has been found dead.

The 36-year-old Sony music executive, who was brought in as a judge on the final series of Australian Idol to replace Kyle Sandilands in 2009, was discovered in a room at a Wooloomooloo hotel late yesterday.

A New South Wales Police spokesperson told the Herald Sun that the death was not suspicious but did not give a reason behind it.

Springbett worked with acts such as Cassie Davis, Jessica Mauboy, Rogue Traders and Karnivool during his career.

Earlier this year, he was romantically linked to Mauboy after they were spotted together at a Rihanna concert, but her manager David Champion said: "[It's] absolute nonsense and about as likely as Jess running off with Prince William."

In November 2010, Springbett was apparently involved in a brawl outside his Sydney office after a former flatmate attacked him over a personal issue.