Jessica Sanchez to receive lowest payout in 'American Idol' history
Published May 26 2012, 22:10 BST | By Zeba Blay
Jessica Sanchez, runner-up in season 11 of American Idol, is set to receive the lowest payout in the show's history.According to The AP, past second prize winners of the Fox singing competition show have received a guaranteed advance of at least $175,000 (£111,000), as well as a full album deal.
© Fox / Michael Becker
However show bosses have produced a new contract in which future runners-up, including Sanchez, will receive between $30,000 (£19,000) to $60,000 (£38,000) in advances for singles or EP records.
The deal also stipulates that winner Phillip Phillips will receive a $300,000 (£190,000) advance upon completion of his first studio album.
He stands to collect up to $800,000 (£510,000) if he is able to qualify for a six-album deal with production company 19 Recordings, who handle all Idol contestants.
Reps for 19 Recordings Inc. and American Idol have declined to comment on the new contracts.
Kodi.....Absoutely right sir.Jessica had more talent,more range and she has the voice a mega star already.Phillip is a mono style singer.If you've heard one of his renditions,you've heard them all.Not to mention that his style sucks,he has no personality and his voice could rust rubber.I refuse to ever watch another season.Their viewership was down 25% this year and with results like this years ending,I predict it will drop even further next year.,especally beause of how the runners up re being treated.Jessica needs to sue the record company,it's a travisty what they're doing.With a few exceptions,Scotty for instance,the best rarely wins.The teeny boppers vote thousands of times each for the cute guys like P.P. no matter how badly they suck.I have at least 10 friends and family who say they'll never watch again.
June 13th 2012 at 4:53am
Thing is mate, through every season, the competitors who finish 1st and 2nd are under contract for these deals. The reason why it is unfair is not because she is not the winner but because she can't go get a contract with other labels. She is bound to a low paying single/EP only contract with the Idol team which prevents her securing a record deal elsewhere. She should have won too!
May 27th 2012 at 9:24am(+1 like)
It's not unfair. There was never any mention of a prize for 2nd place. Why should the runner up be guaranteed a deal too? It kind of makes the final vote a bit redundant then doesn't it? I personally think Philip is a terrible winner (although his single is pretty decent) but he was voted as the winner, not Jessica. Anything she gets is a bonus really.
May 27th 2012 at 12:02am(+2 likes)
There has always been a mention of a second place prize it's happened every year just because you have not heard of it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Mind you Idol has a good tradition of the second place act ending up doing better than the winner so I don't worry too much about her career.
May 27th 2012 at 12:30pm(+1 like)
The runner up shouldn't be guaranteed a deal, but the problem is that she's now tied into a contract with Idol and she can't get signed by other labels so they should either give her a decent contract or release her
May 27th 2012 at 1:32pm(+1 like)
Unfair.
May 26th 2012 at 11:42pm(+1 like)