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
Mercedes S.
May 31st, 2012
9:19 am
what, no page 5?
Mercedes S.
May 31st, 2012
9:19 am
Ah, that’s better. Much better.
M Davis
May 31st, 2012
10:53 am
The male “idols” don’t do as well as the female ” idols”. Jessica will long be remembered for singing beautifully beyond her 16 years. She can sing anything. She will do well after all the fuss about Phillip has died down.
I read that many more females vote than male viewers. So it is no surprise that Philip won (because of the female voters). I am disappointed though, Haley should have won last year’s idol and Jessica should have won this year’s idol.
Maybe there should be two idols every year (male and female). Jessica has a bright future and will likely outdo Philip financially in the long term.
RealMusic
June 4th, 2012
3:39 pm
Still not bad for a 16-year old. When I was 16, I only made $6.50 an hour! lol Anways, Jessica has a bright, long future ahead of her. With people like Tommy Mattola working with her on her next album and overnight world stardom, she’ll go very far. She’s the one to watch. I’m sure of it.