American Idol Contestants Reportedly Paid Pennies for Hour Long Shows – Their Per Show Stipend Still Remained Less Than Construction Workers and Electricians
Watching reality competition shows and seeing their contestants’ journey toward stardom has always been fascinating for viewers. Competition Shows like American Idol, X-Factor, The Voice, and many more have given people several stars, who end up achieving so much more in the future. But what about the time they compete on the shows?
Do they have a source of income as they take the stage to showcase their talent? And if they do, how much do they get? While featuring in a reality TV show brings attention, popularity, and fame, the payment is not as glorious for the participants.
How Much Did American Idol Contestants Get Paid?
American Idol has been running for more than two decades. The show started in 2002, and Kelly Clarkson became the first American Idol as she won the singing competition and signed her first deal soon after winning the show. The singer is now at the peak of her career with two Grammys under her name and an award-winning talk show.
Just like her, Carrie Underwood, Scotty McCreery, Adam Lambert, and many more have made millions after winning the show. But the participants were reportedly paid less as they competed on the show. According to a 2007 report from Today, the participants were only get paid when they reached the Top 12 and the season finale.
The top 12 contestants were required to sign up with AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and were paid $921 per week for each show. As they progress in the show and make it to the Top 10 contestants, their stipend starts increasing. However, the exact amount is not publicly known. The report suggests an estimate from $1,000 to $5,000 per show. However, even if they earned more in live concerts, their stipend was still less than most high-paying blue-collar jobs.
Stipend Changes For American Idol Contestants
According to Richard Rushfield, American Idol increased the number of participants from 12 to 24 for payments. The book titled American Idol: The Untold Truth details the struggles and what follows up for those who feature on the show. The book also mentions the stipend for two hours of idol shows.
The stipend varied based on how long the show would be. Contestants were paid $1,571 along with meals for two hours shows, $1,303 for one-hour shows, and $910 for half-hour results shows. The participants were also required to sign up with AFTRA, which cost $1600 at the time and was still higher than the payments they received.
The book also revealed that contestants get $450 for clothes. Not much information is available about any increments in their payment in the last decade. But considering that the AFTRA sign-up cost has hiked up to $3,000, it can be assumed that the payments for the contestants could also have been increased.
Source: Today
