American Idol has shocked everyone with the amount the contestants get paid to be on the show. Usually, television stars are paid to be on the show. So, people assumed American Idol contestants were paid, too. However, they did not expect the truth of the situation. American Idol has been around for years and has helped a lot of artists get their start. Keep reading to find out more about this situation.
American Idol Helps A Lot Of Artists Start Their Careers
American Idol has been around for years. It is a show that fans continuously tune into to watch some great singers compete for the title. The show has been known to give a lot of artists a start in their careers. Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have both won the show and are doing amazing. Carrie is now a judge on American Idol. She brings something different to the table as she knows what it is like to compete. Viewers love watching her bring something new to the show.
The Shocking Amount Contestants Are Paid To Be On Show
The shocking amount the contestants get paid for being on American Idol has been revealed. Margie Mays addressed this in 2020.
“You don’t get paid until you make it to the live rounds. I also did a couple of commercials for [American Idol], and that stuff is paid. When they take you to places like Hawaii, obviously they pay for that, and there are things like a per diem for eating while you’re in Hawaii. But they’re not paying you to be a contestant.”
It has also been revealed that the winner does not get all of the $250,000. This is because of taxes. Also, they get half when starting their record. However, they do not get the remaining amount until it is finished. It has also been noted by TV Insider that the contestants have to pay $3,000 to get a membership with AFTRA. However, after that, they get paid $1,571 for a two-hour show, $1,303 for a one-hour episode, and $910 for a half-hour episode.
It seems that they are not paid until the live shows. However, they do not have to pay for anything out of their own money. If they have to fly somewhere, the show will cover that. They cover their food, hotel, wardrobe, etc. However, they are not technically paid for being on the show until they make it to the live rounds. This shocked fans as they did not expect this answer.
What do you think about this situation? Are you shocked that they do not get paid until the live shows? Let us know in the comments below. We would love to hear what you think about it all.
Hailee is a writer and loves any reality tv show. She is a fur mom and works from home with them by her side.