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The band will be at the center of Burnett's latest brainchild, Rock Star, an American Idol-style show in which the band will hunt for a new singer, reports Billboard.
"I am a long-time fan of INXS and feel very fortunate that INXS approached us with this idea and have entrusted us with their future," Burnett said in a statement posted on the band's official Web site. "I feel there's room on TV for more than one great music-based show, and I feel that rock music has been totally left out of that mix."
Since Hutchence's death, surviving band members Andrew Farriss, Tim Farriss, Jon Farriss, Kirk Pengilly and Garry Beers have occasionally performed, relying on the help of vocalist Jon Stevens.
But, says Tim Farriss: "After Michael died, we wanted to search the world for a new singer but didn't know how we could effectively do that. By having Mark and everyone at (Mark Burnett Prods.) embrace the concept, we've now found a fantastic way to make that happen."
Auditions for "Rock Star," which as yet has not announced a TV network to call home, will be held worldwide. The winner – to be decided by audience vote and band members – will record a studio album with INXS (the group's first since 1997's Elegantly Wasted), then embark on a world tour.
