American Idol is known for being one of the most popular singing reality shows and has had quite a success over the seasons. Many contestants have become big stars despite not emerging victorious, but not all of them have earned a salary.
Tori Kelly is one of those contestants. She auditioned when she was only 16 for the competition during the ninth season, which aired in 2010. Despite not winning, she went on to build a significant music career.
Many viewers have wondered if these artists get paid at any point. Well, some do receive payment, but not throughout the entire course of the program, rather when they reach a specific stage. Here, check out when and how much…
Do American Idol contestants receive payment?
Yes, some contestants on American Idol receive payment for their participation in the ABC singing competition. According to Marca, Fox Business revealed that the Top 24 artists receive payment based on the number of hours they spend in the filming studio.
AFTRA pays contestants around $1,571 dollars and provides meals for two-hour episodes, while those who film for just one hour would receive $1,303 dollars. Additionally, they also receive a wardrobe allowance as they need to look presentable for the show.
Richard Rushfield, the former contributing editor at Vanity Fair, disclosed, “They go shopping with a fashion consultant who works on the show, and they get like $450 a week to spend on whatever they want”.
“But many of them dip into their own pocket because a few hundred dollars doesn’t go far in many of these pricey Hollywood stores. The clothes are theirs to keep after the show”, he added later.
It is estimated that over the seasons, the money awarded to participants in the competition has increased, but the total amount they currently earn has not been disclosed so far.