‘American Idol’ Prize Vs. ‘The Voice’ Prize — Which Deal Is Better?
ABC/NBC Singers from all over the world come on shows like American Idol and The Voice searching for their big break. One enticing thing about competing on talent shows is the prize a contestant gets if they win. How do the prizes on The Voice and American Idol compare?
What Is The Prize For Winners Of ‘The Voice’?
In the first few seasons of The Voice, the winner of the show was offered a contract with Big Machine Label Group. In recent seasons, winners have signed with Universal Music Group. The winner is also awarded a “V” trophy which they get to flaunt after dominating the competition. And of course, the winner of The Voice walks away with a cash prize of $100,000.
SEE ALSO: ‘THE VOICE’ WINNERS WIN A RECORD DEAL, BUT WHY DO SO MANY OF THEM REFUSE THE PRIZE?
While this seems like a deal that would help launch the careers of these singers, some winners break away from Universal Music Group over time. Even the very first winner of the show Javier Colon was unhappy with Universal’s label Republic Records’ failure to promote his album.
Sometimes The Prize Has Some Perks
So is the prize really all that great? If you ask a handful of past winners of The Voice, they would probably say no. Cassadee Pope who has been one of the most successful winners of the franchise cut ties with Big Machine because she wanted more creative freedom. In some instances, contestants get an even bigger opportunity out of the show working with their coach.
SEE ALSO: ‘VOICE’ WINNER JAKE HOOT RELEASES DUET WITH COACH KELLY CLARKSON [VIDEO]
Season 17 winner Jake Hoot got a major career boost from the show. He released the duet “I Would’ve Loved You” with his coach Kelly Clarkson recently. This is a connection he made on the show and got to fulfill a major dream of his.
Kelly also revealed that Season 14 winner Brynn Cartelli who ditched her contract with Republic Records has written a song for the American Idol winner’s next album. She also accompanied Kelly on her Meaning of Life Tour. Even if a winner does not stick with the recording contract provided by The Voice, they still win at life making connections with their coaches.
What Is The Prize For The ‘American Idol’ Winners?
The prize for American Idol has changed tremendously over the years. In the first few seasons of the show, winners reportedly were awarded million-dollar recording contracts. Carrie Underwood is said to have won access to a private jet and car. Since then, the prize money has been cut drastically.
Former American Idol contestant Madison VanDenburg’s contract was obtained by The Blast. She competed on the show in 2019. The contract reveals that contestants are now set to make $250,000 and earn a deal with Hollywood Records. They get half of the prize money once they sign the deal with Hollywood Records. The other half of the prize money is given to the winner once they produce their first album.
The winner has a four-month time span to complete the album. During this time, they receive $1,000 per week and $1,000 per recording. The record deal could result in up to six albums over time. The winner gets a 15% royalty on the first three albums they put out. The winner has a set budget of $300,000 for their first album. The catch is that they have to pay this money back once the album starts selling along with 50% of the marketing cost.
SEE ALSO: KELLY CLARKSON: HOW AMERICA GOT IT’S FIRST ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ [VIDEO]
Over the years, American Idol has definitely produced bigger stars than The Voice. The catch is not all of the superstars that came out of American Idol were winners. Which show do you think has the better prize?
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