American Idol Is Leaving Los Angeles. Here's Why It Matters

For more than two decades, American Idol hopefuls have been told that they were “going to Hollywood” by a panel of judges. However, when the next season of the show gets underway, the next wave of contestants may hear something much different. “You’re going to Atlanta” may not have the same ring to it, but it’s true. American Idol is moving to Atlanta for production beginning with the upcoming season.

The move of American Idol to Georgia makes it the most recent unscripted show to leave Southern California. The move doesn't mean American Idol is disappearing from Hollywood or that every part of the show is necessarily moving across the country. Producers have not yet disclosed exactly which portions of Season 25 will be filmed in Georgia.

American Idol Has Been A Los Angeles Show For More Than 20 Years

When American Idol debuted on Fox in 2002, it became one of the biggest shows in American TV history. For much of its original run, the show's Hollywood connection was literal. Contestants traveled to Los Angeles for the famous Hollywood Week portion of the competition, while the live shows were produced in the city. Even after ABC revived the series in 2018, Los Angeles remained the home of its live broadcasts.

That’s why the news that American Idol production is leaving Los Angeles looks like more than a simple change in part of the show’s design. The show has spent much of its existence reinforcing the idea that reaching Hollywood was part of the American dream at the center of Idol. Contestants weren't simply trying to win a singing competition. They were trying to make it to the place that had long represented the entertainment industry itself. In some ways, the move reflects just how much the entertainment industry has changed over the last 24 years.

The Main Reason Is Money

Ultimately, “money makes the world go round,” and finances are at the heart of the decision to move American Idol from Hollywood to Atlanta. Georgia officials have worked to develop one of the most prominent entertainment tax credit programs in the nation. Unlike California’s system, Georgia doesn’t impose the same limitations on the types of unscripted productions that can qualify for incentives, and the state program has no overall cap on credits.

California has expanded its film and television incentive program in recent years, but according to reports, American Idol did not qualify for the program. The California Film Commission declined to comment on individual projects that had not been officially approved. For a television production operating on a large budget, the difference between qualifying for a substantial state incentive and receiving nothing can be significant.

Georgia Has Been Building A Reputation For Unscripted Television

American Idol moving to Atlanta isn’t a case of a show moving to an empty production moment. The Peach State has increasingly become a destination for game shows, reality competitions, and other unscripted productions. ABC's Shark Tank moved from Los Angeles to Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta for its 18th season, while other shows, including Celebrity Family Feud, Press Your Luck, and Fox's The 1% Club, have also moved production to Georgia or the broader Atlanta area.

While Georgia has been discussed as a popular location for scripted movies and TV shows, its recent appeal to unscripted television shows a different side of the business. Unscripted shows usually don’t need the same kind of infrastructure that major feature films need, and their economics can make tax incentives a powerful tool when it comes to picking a production location.

There is also an established production workforce and an increasingly large collection of studios and facilities around metro Atlanta. This means that Georgia isn’t just asking producers to come to the state for a tax break. It’s become a place where quality TV shows can be made.

American Idol Is Also A Different Show Than It Used To Be

It’s worth noting that American Idol’s move to Georgia comes at a time when the show has completely revamped how it finds contestants. During the show's original run, auditions involved enormous in-person crowds. Atlanta alone drew thousands of aspiring contestants when Idol held open auditions there. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that roughly 9,000 people preregistered for a 2009 audition at what was then the Georgia Dome. Those days are over, as American Idol now processes thousands of online submissions before producers decide who is talented enough to perform in front of the judges on the actual show.

Ryan Seacrest will still host. Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie are still judging. Singers will still perform, audiences will still vote, and someone will still walk away with a trophy, but the days of contestants striving for Hollywood are in the past.

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