‘The X Factor’ USA: Demi Lovato receives raise, show saves minus Britney Spears

If you don’t feel like Britney Spears was really bringing much to the table as a judge on “The X Factor” this past season, you are probably not alone. The executives behind the Fox series clearly seemed to take note of her “contributions”, especially when proportioned out to her price tag of about $15 millions.

While we don’t know whether or not the re-tooled panel of Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato, Paulina Rubio, and Kelly Rowland will work, they will be saving a huge amount of money with the new talent. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rowland will receive around $1 million for her duties this season, which is an increase from what she received on “The X Factor” UK in 2011, and also what Demi Lovato was paid last year. Meanwhile, Rubio will receive $1.5 million, and Demi’s salary is doubled up to $2 million, making her the highest-paid judge not named Simon Cowell.

Just to put this in comparison, if you add the salaries of these three judges and multiply by four, you have what Mariah Carey was paid for one low-rated season of “American Idol.” If this isn’t evidence that singing shows had gotten out of hand with the paychecks, we don’t know what is. If the ratings stay around the same, the show will hardly look like as much of a flop, and there are chances for the show to be better since the judges may be more motivated to succeed and earn more money in the future. (You need a fire under your you know what sometimes.)

Then again, this show is really all about the talent first, because if the contestants stink, nothing else really matters.

In case you missed the official announcement earlier about changes to the “X Factor” UK judging panel, just be sure to head on over to the link here.

Photo: Fox