A reporter from the New York Times got a hold of the Idol contracts from last year, and is reporting a breakdown of the earnings for the Idol Top 12. Read it here:
Factoids:
- Kris has earned $650, 000*
- Winners have never failed to earn $1M in the year or so after the contest
- Top 5 earn close to $100K from the show*
- Top 10 several thousand dollars.*
- Contract binds contestant to pay 15 percent of his earnings, not including those from recording and merchandising contracts, a manager’s fee. Contract is for 3 years, 19 continues to collect for 10 years for some of the earnings
*Not including the summer tour
Kris Allen:
- an advance of $350, 000 for his first album, exclusive of recording costs, half of it paid soon after the competition ended and half when he finished recording.
- Disney paid Mr. Allen $100, 000 to turn to a camera and shout, “I’m going to Disney World”
- He stood to earn another $100, 000 for spending a day filming scripted dialogue segments for use in the attraction and for taping a vocal performance for the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade television show.
- received a $100, 000 advance on royalties from a three-year merchandising contract, which gives 19 Entertainment the right to use his image to promote goods and services.
Adam Lambert:
- Earned $300, 000 in advance royalties for his album,
- $75, 000 merchandising contract
- $50, 000 in fees from Disney World for the Idol Experience attraction.
Top 12 contestants:
- receive a one-time payment of $1, 000 and a $1, 000 advance on royalties for each iTunes recording.
- group number performance fees under the union contract with Aftra.
- Aftra contract pays the artists from $1, 011 for a one-hour show to $1, 540 for a two-hour episode,
