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Im telling you the people at the top make a killing on this stuff, you know how much Kelly Clarkson gets off of her contract? It is rumored between 7 and 8 % of album sales. Simon Fuller and 19 Management get the other 92-3 %.

Though they are unable to confirm how little they actually make because if contestants reveal anything to anyone about the workings of the show or the contract they signed, they're liable for damages "in excess of $5 million." Their recording, management and merchandising companies, needless to say, are all owned by 19 Group -- a fundamental conflict of interest familiar to anyone who has studied the machinations of the music biz.

OK well a few things on this

1) It is rumored but nobody knows because... is like me saying.. there is a rumor that Aliens live in my basement but nobody is sure because they are invisible.. so lets just toss that out as complete nothingness..

2) WAH.... let me get this straight some people who's dream it is to be a star have been made a star get to do what they want to do in life and make MILLIONS of dollars doing it. They would have NEVER made it if not for American Idol.

Lets put this into football lovers terms. Lets say you are good enough to be a starting QB in the NFL yet you would never get a chance but low and behold they make a show and you go on it and you win. But you end up having to sign a contract where you only get 10% of what you would have made.

So when you sign a 50 million dollar deal and a 20 million dollar signing bonus instead you end up with $2 million up front and $5 million over the 7 years you PLAYED football.

Now I don't beleive that the IA contestants that signed this contract only get 10% I think thats a load... I also know that some of them have SUED and have gotten out of parts of thier contract.. but even if it was true..

SO FRIGGEN WHAT? They are making more than what they would have if there was no American Idol.

Go American Idol.. and LONG LIVE WAL MART!!