Phillip Phillips’ surgery postponed; ‘Idol’ runner-up contract less generous than in the past
Reflecting the waning fortunes of both the record industry and “American Idol,” the contract for the runner up on the show isn’t quite as generous as it’s been in the past.
In fact, runner-up Jessica Sanchez isn’t even guaranteed a record deal, according to Associated Press.
The agreement appears to be the first time in Idol’s history that producers are not offering the show’s runner-up an album deal that in previous years came with a guaranteed advance of at least $175,000, an Associated Press review of the Fox show’s contracts reveal.
“It makes sense. You can’t continue to offer the same sorts of rewards and incentives when the program was averaging 25 to 30 million (viewers), and (now) the finale is barely breaking 20 million,” said Northwestern University assistant professor Max Dawson, who teaches a course on reality television. Wednesday’s finale was the lowest-rated final show for Idol in its history.
“These contracts don’t pay off,” he said, contrasting the long list of Idol alumni who have been dropped by record labels with those who have thriving careers. “It seems like the successes that people like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have had are the flukes.”
Sanchez will probably get a contract, though, given how much Jimmy Iovine and the judges liked her. But even then, she could get as little as $30,000 in advances. Lauren Alaina received a guaranteed $175,000 advance for her album.
Winner Phillip Phillips of Leesburg will get the same $300,000 guarantee for an album.
And Phillips will be paid $200,000 for his Disney attraction work and Sanchez will rake in $50,000 for her appearances, according to AP. Both are also set to get a cut of merchandise profits.
Phillips, in the meantime, was supposed to have kidney surgery today for a chronic condition that creates painful kidney stones and nearly knocked him out of the competition, according to TMZ. But the surgery was postponed because he was running a high fever triggered by a bad sinus infection, so surgery has been pushed back to next week, TMZ said.
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By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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204 comments Add your comment
blkshepherd
May 30th, 2012
1:14 pm
Mercedes
Clearly I know the show is called American Idol your the one called it American Voice, Do NOT switch my words around..I have zero tolerence for that. The show was Suppose to Showcase SINGING as VOICE, Vocals. Thats Exactly the PROBLEM. Folks making the show out of something its NOT. I Stand by What I said, the show is a Popular Contest. It is what it is.
Your Welcome Dierdre and G..I knew you two would understand what I am talking about it Not being a singing contest anymore.
Spade
May 30th, 2012
1:22 pm
The show’s ratings were down because Idol has sucked since Simon left period! Really, the judges are too empathetic instead of giving real constructive criticism like Simon used to. There were times when the judges were praising contestants when they clearly sounded horrible on TV like Joshua Ledet. I still have no idea how he made it to the top 12. They need a judge on the show that isn’t afraid to speak his/her mind. Out of all the contestants this season, Phillips was the best, but he still lacks that “it” factor for me. Also, had they kept David Leather on the show they would have had more ratings. The kid put me in mind of a young talented Michael. He would have sung laps around Phillips. Yet they gave David very little “story” time so that the audience could get to know him. The camera focused on who the producers wanted on the show instead of the public. I don’t know who they could get to fill Simon’s shoes, but they need to do something before we all lose interest in the show as boring as it is now.
DanJ
May 30th, 2012
1:23 pm
Sue, Jessica tried out for America Got Talent as an 11 year old but to my knowledge she didn’t try out for X-Factor,
bknsty14
May 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
Not sure if anyone saw, but I was at the grocery store a couple days ago and saw People Magazine had an Idol where are they now for every past contestant (not sure top 24 or 12, but it was a thick magazine). A little pricey, but may be worth it for the diehards.
G
May 30th, 2012
1:59 pm
2nd place has been reduced to receiving a “Certificate of Completion”.
The operative word in the statement above is “reduced”. Which means I acknowledged the past, but implies a decline. Specifically, my interpretation of “reduced” makes reference in particular to Jessica’s so called prize, which pales in comparison to her 2nd place predecesors. Roho just quoted the contractual change for 2nd place. So, the argument is valid. It wasn’t about the success or quality of 2nd place finishers.
G
May 30th, 2012
2:08 pm
D, we can agree to disagree on the voting system of one vote per person. I don’t have a huge problem of limitting the votes to 5-10, but that’s cheating in itself. One vote per person keeps EVERYONE honest on who you support. You may have 3 favs, but one vote forces you to make a true choice.
The power-texters and the online junkies do nothing more than dilute the true voting support. It’s very possible to have more voters for one candidate and more votes for another. I think that has dominated Idol since they jumped the shark.
Mercedes S.
May 30th, 2012
2:16 pm
Blkshepherd – don’t understand your huffiness.
You obviously didn’t read my comment the way it was intended.
I did not switch any of your words around. I ws trying to clarify what kind of show “American Idol” is. It is not about who has the best snging voice, it’s…Oh, I give u
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
2:17 pm
Use of the term “jumped the shark” has jumped the shark.
Mercedes S.
May 30th, 2012
2:18 pm
Computer froze.
Nice for “Idol” to be able to tell us that the show got 132 mill votes in the final round. What’ wrong with letting us know who got how many votes?
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
2:20 pm
But G…how do you know who to support during the top 12? One vote could mean that a lot of really good people go home because someone else who happened to have a great night gets all the votes. Can you honestly say that every season you have picked someone out of the top 12 and stuck with them the whole season? I can’t.
I could see a graduated form of voting. Top 12/12 votes, top 11/11 votes and so on until the final two.
I really don’t see how one vote “keeps it honest” Seems to me it limits choices early on. Power-texting is still thwarted and people are more likely to vote their limit than to just throw a couple of votes at a favorite and give up. That’s just a guess but I know I personally would use all 10 of my votes if I knew that no one else could vote more times than I could.
G
May 30th, 2012
2:25 pm
Interesting article on ESPN in the Grantland section, about Jessica Sanchez and the “diva” thing. They were pretty 75% accurate on how I feel about certain diva songs performed on shows.
DISCLOSURE: If you’re squeamish about a little profanity in the article, beware. That’s just how they write.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7985909/jay-caspian-kang-only-two-songs-matter-aspiring-divas
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
2:30 pm
Just my opinion but I think the ratings would plummet with one vote per person. There’s not a show out there that limits the voting that much.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
2:31 pm
G…my kid introduced me to Grantland last year. Love it!
Rickster
May 30th, 2012
2:32 pm
How about one vote per contestant per device/IP Address, your queeness?
G
May 30th, 2012
2:35 pm
@D………..Then so be it. That’s a dynamic that will definitely change the landscape of who wins and who makes the top 10.
I usually have about 3-4 favs a show. Honestly, I had about 5 on Idol this year, which is a personal record and a testiment to the improved quality of contestants. For the record, pp was NOT one of my favs (even when I found out he was from GA).
All I’m saying is that ONE vote forces you to really place more value in your choices. You may see your favs all on the same level, but only ONE is better (by your standards) than the rest. Spreading votes is like a bailout. 1 vote= no bailouts.
Pitchy
May 30th, 2012
2:39 pm
Did everyone here actually vote???
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
2:41 pm
You really do have to limit it by devices, don’t you, Rickster. I don’t think the technology is there for the show to know that my landline is somehow related to my cell or my computer. But you can’t make it too confusing.
Rickster
May 30th, 2012
2:42 pm
If you can get a “one-time” message telling you “your vote for” (insert contestant’s name “has been received”, why can’t the software be modified then block any more votes from that phone for that person?
Same with IP addresses.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
2:43 pm
G:For the record, pp was not one of my favs (even when I found out he was from GA).
You’re kidding!!!! I never would have guessed that!
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
2:45 pm
One vote per person will cause Idol to lose viewers, and as Nigel has established that is what it is all about. Different types of winners may cause a slower decline, but a radical change in voting will cause more of a decline than is gained by varied winners.
So, even though I highly doubt that Idol would shoot itself in the foot, I don’t buy into the hypothesis that limiting votes will change the results. The idea that only power voters voted for WGWG#’s 1through 5 has not and cannot be proven. Just because you will cast the same amount of votes as a teenage girl it does not follow that you outnumber the teenage girls who are willing to vote. Therefore you will still lose.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
2:46 pm
Apparently it can be modified. SYTYCD limits voting, I think. So does DWTS. The technology is there to limit a device voting more than once.
But what about Mo? If he only has a landline then who gets the one vote? Mo or his wife(just an example…he obviously has a computer!)
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
2:48 pm
JT, that’s so true. I agree that there’s absolutely no proof that limiting the votes would change the outcome.
There is, however, a growing belief that it would make a difference and belief, in this case, becomes reality when the viewers get discouraged and leave.
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
Curiosity question: have SYTYCD, DWTS, The Voice, X-Factor, or AGT displayed the obvious regional bias as Idol does?
It’s been a common theme since Year 4 that there is a benefit to being from the South on Idol. With that in mind, how does limiting voting affect that at all? A bias that has been present since day one will not be erased by limits.
Mercedes S.
May 30th, 2012
2:54 pm
Thanks, G., for link at 2:25! Whatever happened to little Bianca Ryan? Her “And I’m Telling You” was beyond amzing. Also enjoyed listening to JHud’s version again. When I saw “Dreamgirls”, the movie, at a screening all those years ago the audience was electrified during JHud’s song. Tears were streaming down people’s faces and there was whooping and hollering afterward for several minutes. Never seen anything like it.
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
2:54 pm
Deirdre: “There is, however, a growing belief that it would make a difference and belief, in this case, becomes reality when the viewers get discouraged and leave.”
I agree, and that is why the change will be made, perception. If Nigel can minimize the audience bleed off by changing the voting system, he’ll do it. He won’t do it to get a different type of winner, he’ll do it only to increase viewers. If it does the opposite you can bet that he’ll change it back very quickly.
DanJ
May 30th, 2012
2:59 pm
Pitchy I started voting at #7. I would support giving voters 1 vote per contestant but allow them to vote for more than just that 1 contestant. I kinda agree with Deirdre on that. Early on it is hard to pick a favorite at least for me. You may have a lot of people vote for all ten but my guess is no one would vote for more than 3-4 contestants.
Pitchy
May 30th, 2012
3:03 pm
Thanks for answering, DanJ. I’ve always voted, but this season, I ALWAYS received a busy signal. Wait, I did get through ONCE!!!
Pandora
May 30th, 2012
3:13 pm
I KNEW that the ratings were going to be very low. The reason is plain and simple…their BEST singer (Joshua Ledet) was voted off the show! That’s why! He WAS the reason why I watched the show and voted! I’m not suprised at all. I can’t WAIT for Joshua’s album to come out. I will be one of the first of millions of people to purchase it. I am very happy that Joshua didn’t win and will get a music contract with another company because the American Idol contract SUCKS!!!
Pandora
May 30th, 2012
3:18 pm
Whenever Jessica’s album come out I will purchase it. I will probably purchase Philip Phillips album too.
blkshepherd
May 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
Mercedes S.
My Comment like yours is My Opinion..it was not open for debate, a reply or discussion. You gave your take which I did not critique nor am I interested in you critiquing mine. Matter of fact I dont critique, change or rearrange anyone’s post as all are just Opinions and like Rear ends we all got one. Tootles..
G
May 30th, 2012
3:39 pm
@Pitchy. The only season I didn’t vote, was when Carrie Underwood won. Nothing against her or the show, just a busy year. If the final two sucked (like last year), I didn’t vote at all. I wasn’t too fond of the Davids, so I didn’t vote in that final either.
JT. The winner IS connected to viewers, and numbers will continue to decline when WGWG#6 wins. He will come…..he will win…..less people will participate. When it comes to television, what’s so intriguing about a show that’s predictable?
Pitchy
May 30th, 2012
3:48 pm
blkshephard, I respect your post, but even though one puts their opinion on a blog, do you really expect no one to comment on something you or anyone may write? It’s a blog, and as long as the topic is being discussed, blogging is geared toward the back and forth of differing opinions on comments typed here. Good, bad or indifferent (other than arguing and fighting).
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
3:53 pm
I voted early because there were so many interesting singers this year. Top 13, 12, 10, but stopped voting in the middle fo awhile then picked it up again around top 6 up to the end.
Sam-A
May 30th, 2012
4:00 pm
Blkshep: Pitchy is correct. You’ve become a little bit contentious with Mercedes, which is not like you. I know Mercedes meant nothing personal against you,a nd she said as much above. We all “fuss” at one another on occasion – wouldn’t be any fun if we all thought exactly the same – even me “just found twin sister” Jenny and I have some disagreements (she doesn’t like PP, I do; she could at least tolerate Joshua, i couldn’t), and we jousted amoungst ourselves during the season. All in sister/brotherhood and fun.
Highlander
May 30th, 2012
4:10 pm
Pandora, Joshua was still on the finale so I guess you missed seeing him one more time.
And I hope you’re honest enough to come back later and admit you were wrong about “millions” of people buying his album. I would guess it will be closer to 150,000, if that.
Not knocking Joshua, just making an observation based on previous statistics.
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
4:14 pm
G, Idol will lose viewers no matter what it does at this point.
They will lose viewers next year just due to the age of the show. People are tired of it and the market is now oversaturated with Idol shows.
Idol will lose viewers if we get WGWG#6, I’m not arguing against that.
What I’m arguing is that a radical change in voting will cause Idol to lose more viewers than they would have lost if they keep the current system and get WGWG#6 next year. Limiting people to one vote is a poison pill solution. It’s like cutting off your head in order to fight a cold. The solution creates more of a problem than it cures.
What Idol needs is subtle changes in voting to help stem the loss of that first group of viewers, the group that has simply grown tired of it all. Stem that loss and any loss from WGWG#6 is mitigated.
Mercedes S.
May 30th, 2012
4:19 pm
Thanks, Pitchy and Sam-A, for support and understanding what I was trying to say -
Highlander
May 30th, 2012
4:21 pm
To answer a question posed earlier (I think by Pitchy), I haven’t voted for anyone on AI for quite a long time. My feeling is, I’m not about to waste my time voting for something when my vote is going to be made inconsequential by a vast number of power texters and others who have nothing better to do than spend 2 hours voting.
Win, place or show, I’ll vote for a contestant with my wallet when their CD comes out!
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
4:36 pm
I voted for Hollie, I didn’t vote after we hit the top 7. I’ve never been big on voting, I did more online voting this year, only picking up the phone when the judges snubbed Hollie at the end of one show. Early on I spread a few votes around, but most seasons I will only vote a few times during the early stages.
If I only voted when I felt my vote would mean something I would never vote in a Presidential election again.
bknsty14
May 30th, 2012
4:57 pm
I too voted for Hollie probably between rounds 7 until she was out. Maybe 8. didn’t vote for anyone else after that. I say just limit the online and text votes, but let people call as much as they want. It seems like the biggest hassle out of all the voting types. You can get in almost 2000 votes in 2 hours by texting. Limit it to 5-10 votes and make people call after that.
And living in Illinois, I know for a fact my vote for President doesn’t matter, but I do it anyway.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
5:01 pm
Phil’s coronation song, Home has debuted at #2 on the digital charts. That’s the highest EVER debut for an Idol winner’s coronation song.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
5:03 pm
And, according to mj:
It’s also the second-best digital sales week ever for any Idol contestant. Only original Idol, Kelly Clarkson’s 2009 song “My Life Would Suck Without You” had a higher sales when it debuted with 280,000 downloads!
Fantasia's Ripped Pants
May 30th, 2012
5:04 pm
JT – You never write anymore. I thought you were different. You just used me and then throw me aside? I deserve better than that. I’m a star. You will respect me.
Mercedes S.
May 30th, 2012
5:04 pm
D at 5:01 pm – !!!!!!!
And I only voted for one contestant this year – Hollie. Up to the bitter end.
Only other year I voted was Adam’s season.
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
5:05 pm
Phil’s download number was 278,000
JTesla
May 30th, 2012
5:11 pm
Oh don’t worry Fantasia’s Ripped Pants, I still go back and look at the picture Rodney posted of you. Everytime I need a good laugh I go back to that thread just for the pictures.
Fantasia's Ripped Pants
May 30th, 2012
5:16 pm
Aww!!! You’re so sweet.
Rodney Ho
May 30th, 2012
5:55 pm
I’m glad this blog has created new friendships like this!
Deirdre
May 30th, 2012
5:56 pm
lol!
JD
May 30th, 2012
6:55 pm
JD at 9:51 am answering MyPatootie was not me. Not born in south georgia.. My comments from last night seem lonely and meaningless without the ones that I was responding to that were deleted by RoHo. Still glad he edited them.