From Rolling Stone · Charisma Madarang · · 1m 30s
'American Idol' trades Hollywood for Georgia
After two decades in Los Angeles, the biggest singing show in America is chasing a tax credit south.
In brief
After two decades in Los Angeles, the biggest singing show in America is chasing a tax credit south. Georgia's film tax credit is now strong enough to pull even a 24-season Hollywood institution out of Los Angeles. Originally reported by Rolling Stone.
Idol is leaving Tinseltown
After more than two decades in Hollywood, 'American Idol' is moving production to Georgia. Fremantle, the show's production and distribution company, confirmed the move to NBCLA.
“After more than two decades in Tinseltown, American Idol is packing its bags.”
The deal isn't signed yet
Fremantle is in final talks with a studio in the Atlanta area, per Deadline, but hasn't signed. A Fremantle rep didn't immediately respond to Rolling Stone's request for comment.
Follow the tax credit
Georgia offers a 20 percent transferable film tax credit, plus a 10 percent uplift for projects that promote the state. The minimum spend is $500,000, reachable across multiple projects in one tax year.
Georgia is the third coast
The state is now one of the busiest shooting locations outside LA and New York. 'Stranger Things,' 'The Walking Dead,' James Gunn's 'Superman' and the Bardem-Adams 'Cape Fear' all shot there.
Season 24 already wandered
The season that wrapped in May took contestants to Hawaii and paid tribute to Taylor Swift. Judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan also moved 'Hollywood Week' to Nashville.
Hannah Harper took the crown
The three-hour finale pitted Jordan McCullough, Hannah Harper and Keyla Richardson against each other. Harper, from Missouri, won the last title of the Hollywood era.
At a glance
Georgia's film tax credit is now strong enough to pull even a 24-season Hollywood institution out of Los Angeles.
