The Rise and Fall of American Idol

American Idol has had a long history of amazing ratings over the last 14 years but has been slipping each season since 2011. I have a few theories as to why!

First, Simon Cowell leaves the program to start another reality singing competition that is strikingly similar to American Idol called the X-factor. As much as Simon was the villain judge on American Idol he was also a big reason why people watched the show, for his sometimes over the top, mean, but necessary critiques. See something American Idol has struggled with and never gotten right after Simon and Paula left was the right mixture of judges. Last year Mariah Carey and Nikki Minaj was a disaster.

The Voice has dominated American Idol this year averaging close to 14 million viewers per episode while American Idol has consistently fallen out of the top 10 shows of the weak with less than 9 million viewers most weeks.

While 14 years is a good run it maybe time to hang it up. American Idol is set to loose money for the first time ever. After paying Jennifer Lopez 20 million dollars by herself and the rest of the judges, mentors, and host there is not much of the pie left.

So with ratings way down which means less advertising revenue, a payroll to rival the New York Yankees and spending more money on the production of the show how much longer will American Idol last? I know one thing if we ever do find out the answer to this question it will be, "AFTER THE BREAK".