Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
PureWow
Do 'The Voice' Contestants Get Paid? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Being on the Hit Reality TV Show
By Jael Rucker,
3 days ago
Since making its debut in September 2010, The Voice has enjoyed a whopping 25 seasons , making it one of the most successful talent competitions on television. Now if you’re anything like me, you’ve likely wondered about the benefits for participants , such as what perks they get after competing, and do The Voice contestants get paid? It’s no secret that it’s quite the commitment to compete in a show like The Voice, and perhaps the most prominent question of all, is in fact the question of whether the contestants receive any form of payment for lending their time, talent and efforts.
The simple answer is yes…but, not in the form of a standard paycheck in the way the judges and hosts do for their services. Read on if you’re curious about how The Voice contestants receive their form of payment.
1. Do The Voice Contestants Get Paid?
Tyler Golden/NBC via Getty Images
The quick answer is yes and no. According to Newsweek , contestants receive a living stipend that covers their room, board, food and any travel expenses, but they don't actually receive a weekly/bi-weekly paycheck. This is, of course, completely separate from the $100,000 grand prize and recording contract the winner of the show receives each season. This lack of compensation means potential contestants will have to take into consideration what participating in the show will mean for their personal lives, such as whether or not they will have to quit their jobs in order to participate.
2. How Much Do The Voice Contestants Get Paid?
Trae Patton/NBC via Getty Images
As I just mentioned, contestants do not receive a weekly or bi-weekly paycheck to compete on The Voice . Instead, they are given a stipend that covers their room, board, food, transportation and any other expenses that may pop up during their time on the show. But the exact amount of this stipend is something that has been so there is no official confirmation as to how much participants are given while on the show. The only real information is a report from Taste of Country (who themselves gathered their information from a New York Daily News article that is no longer available) that states the amount is “small.”
This is obviously much different than a show like American Idol , where contestants register to become a member of AFTRA, which gets the top 24 participants a performance fee of $1,571, plus meals for two-hour performances, $1,303 for one-hour shows and $910 for half-hour results shows. The further you go, the more money you make, which doesn’t appear to be the case with The Voice .
3. How Much Do The Voice Coaches Get Paid?
Nicole Weingart/NBC via Getty Images
Yes, the coaches of The Voice do get paid, but their salary depends upon what they/their agents are able to negotiate based on their respective star power and expertise. For example, according to a report from OK Magazine , Ariana Grande was reportedly the highest paid judge ever, earning something in the $20 to $25 million range during her time on the show. That same article estimated John Legend and Blake Shelton were making roughly $13 million for their judging duties. Separately, according to an article from Fandomwire , Christina Aguilera is slightly ahead of Legend and Shelton, with an estimated $17 million for her services, and Adam Levine was reportedly making around $13 to $16 million during the years he was on the show. So yeah, the coaches receive hefty paychecks for their participation on the show.
4. Can The Voice Contestants Get Paid Outside of the Show?
Trae Patton/NBC via Getty Images
From my research, it appears as though contestants must wait until their time on the show is over before they can accept opportunities and deals that result in them getting paid (regardless of whether or not they win). For example, Melanie Martinez from season 3 was able to launch her own fragrance line called Cry Baby Perfume Milk along with an exclusive lipstick line, created in partnership with Lime Crime, Inc. after appearing on the show. Morgan Wallen is certainly an example of somebody who has been able to parlay his experience on the show into musical success that is without a doubt turning a profit. In fact, Wallen actually had the most popular album of 2023 according to a report from Billboard earlier this year, where they sourced tracking data from the music firm luminate. Wallen’s success is continuing in 2024 with a summer tour .
PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0