‘American Idol’ Moving Production From LA To Georgia

Key Points:

• American Idol is relocating its production from Los Angeles to the Atlanta area in Georgia for its upcoming Season 25, marking a significant shift in reality TV production locations.
• The move is largely driven by Georgia’s attractive tax incentives, offering up to a 30% tax credit for unscripted and reality TV productions, compared to California’s more restrictive tax credit system that excludes many unscripted shows.
• Los Angeles has experienced a notable decline in unscripted production, with a 62.7% drop over the last five years and a 40% reduction in shoot days in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year.
• The departure of major shows like American Idol and The Masked Singer from California within a year represents a major setback for the city’s reality TV industry, despite recent efforts to expand tax credits for large-scale competition shows.
• American Idol’s Season 25 will continue with judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood, and is expected to premiere in the new year, with Fremantle finalizing studio arrangements in Georgia.