‘American Idol’ Draft Contracts Reveal Big Paydays for Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina

Are you all keeping up with American Idol? Forgot the last time I saw that show. But saw the news byte about Beyonce giving a stellar performance and her husband apparently sharing it on his site. It is Beyonce season I guess. That an American Idol contract season.

“Scotty McCreery can thank a fourth judge for clearing his path to becoming the latest “American Idol” – one who didn’t have to critique his singing.

A Los Angeles judge approved a minor’s contract establishing financial protections both McCreery and Lauren Alaina on Monday, two days before fan votes gave the country crooner the show’s top award. The draft contracts give the first-place winner – McCreery – at least $250,000 in advances for winning the show and recording the first album.

The 17-year-old will earn tens of thousands of dollars more for granting “Idol” partners likeness, merchandise and endorsement rights, and will also receive royalties on any music he releases.

Runner-up Alaina is also set to receive a major payday; the contact approved by Superior Court Judge Marjorie Steinberg calls for the 16-year-old to receive $87,500 for finishing second. The amount would be doubled if Alaina records an album.

Despite the payouts that would be the dream of many high-schoolers, the newly-minted stars are receiving less than another “Idol” phenom who needed her mom’s permission to perform. Season Six winner Jordin Sparks received a contract that guaranteed her a $180,000 advance after the show and another $180,000 after delivering her first album.

Also, in some past seasons, winners were paid a minimum of $100,000 for merchandise rights, records show. Draft merchandise agreements for McCreery and Alaina give him $50,000 and her $40,000.

Their face-off this week was the first time in “Idol” history that both top contestants were under the age of 18. An estimated 29.3 million people tuned in, which The Nielsen Co. said Thursday was 21 percent more than last year’s finale. . .”

Billboard Biz has the full story.

Photocredit: Fox News