Television is now awash with competitive music reality shows, with The Voice, American Idol, and Rhythm + Flowdrawing millions of viewers each week. One of the biggest draws is the musical icons that make up the judging and coaching panels, who offer sage advice or harsh criticisms to aspiring singers. These stints can see judges, who were often at the height of their popularity more than a decade ago, earn huge amounts. In this article, we’ve explored which earned the most.
The Appeal of Competitive Musical Shows
Since Kelly Clarkson won the first American Idol in 2002, the public’s appetite for star-making TV shows has been insatiable. Since then, the format has generated countless global superstars that sell out arenas. Year after year, audiences flock to see who the next pop sensation will be, with rags-to-riches stories at the forefront.
For those wanting to live the TV game show experience but don’t want to go through the rigmarole of auditions, performances, and critique, there are alternatives. Websites such as https://casino.betfair.com/game/live-adventures-beyond-wonderland-cptl offer online game shows that award cash prizes, whether through Wheel of Fortune style wheel-spin games or adaptations of Deal or No Deal.
For many people, though, their chosen entertainment is spectating the amateur contestants competing for fortune and fame before iconic musicians turned judges. One such icon is Katy Perry, whose record-setting paycheck has gone unmatched for nearly a decade.
The Top-Earners: Katy Perry
With a staggering $25 million season salary, Katy Perry has earned the title of the highest-paid musician judge. According to reports at https://www.tmz.com/2017/05/23/katy-perry-paid-more-than-men-american-idol-judge/, Perry secured her salary on her 2016 stint in American Idol, which she continues to panel today. This helped her to become the highest-paid female musician in 2018, helping boost her net worth to $350 million.
The Runner-Ups: Jennifer Lopez and Christina Aguilera
These two hitmakers of the early 2000s leveraged their success to secure massive paydays for their judging stints, earning a nice $20 million per season. Lopez’s deal was awarded during the 2011 season of American Idol, while Aguilera’s sum was paid over her five-year coaching stint on The Voice. While the paydays were certainly valuable, the opportunities also helped introduce the artists to a new generation of viewers, further boosting ticket sales for their tours.
The Diva: Mariah Carey
With Billboard reports at https://www.billboard.com/pro/how-much-mariah-carey-make-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you/ sharing that Carey earns around $2 million per year from All I Want for Christmas is You, the 90s superstar is by no means strapped for cash. Of course, her $18 million fee for judging American Idol in 2012 didn’t hurt, too.
At the time, the salary was record-shattering, paving the way for the other artists on this list to demand their hefty fees. While the salaries are still dwarfed by judge Simon Cowell’s estimated $40 million salary from his American Idol hosting gig, they prove the immense star power and entrepreneurial prowess of the beloved musicians.
The Lucrative Market of TV Deals
Source: Pexels
While all of these musicians were at the peak of their musical popularity a decade or two ago, they have leveraged their iconic status to secure huge annual paydays. While Perry’s $25 million salary is yet to be beaten, it remains a matter of time till a new star comes along to shatter this record.
