Laine Hardy is the 2019 winner of American Idol and per the New York Times, things have changed. In 2010, no Idol winner failed to make less than one million and Hardy will most likely see a fraction of that. Hardy gets $250,000 for a completed album, plus $1,000 weekly while recording the album and $1,000 for every master recording delivered. After that he gets 15% royalties.
In the past, winners would have to sign lengthy contracts with labels. Carrie Underwood just released her "non-Idol" label album, and she won in 2005. When Underwood won, she won a $1 million recording contract, a Ford Mustang and use of a private jet.
Tons of country artists tried out for the famed show and now are happier that they didn't win much less even make it to the show. Those include Maren Morris, Hilary Scott, Jimmie Allen and Chris Lane.
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