“American Idol” is preparing for one of the biggest behind-the-scenes changes in its history. Production of the long-running singing competition is moving from Los Angeles to the Atlanta area for Season 25, which is scheduled to arrive in 2027. Producer Fremantle has confirmed the relocation.
The move has major consequences for the people who have worked behind the cameras. According to a new report, much of the existing Los Angeles production crew is not expected to relocate with the show, meaning a largely new Atlanta-based team could be assembled.
The report says some employees received advance notice, while others learned about the relocation around the same time it became public. Sources described some longtime crew members as “blindsided” and said the change has left people facing the loss of their jobs.
Not everyone behind the scenes is expected to disappear. Some senior producers reportedly will continue working on “American Idol,” but the move could significantly reshape the larger production workforce that has supported the series in California.
The relocation ends a remarkable Los Angeles tradition. “American Idol” debuted on Fox in 2002, and its live shows have historically been produced in Los Angeles. The most recent season originated from Red Studios Hollywood.
There had already been signs that the show was becoming less dependent on Hollywood. During Season 24, the traditional Hollywood Week portion was moved to Belmont University’s Fisher Center in Nashville and transformed into the “Music City Takeover.”
Financial considerations appear to be an important part of the broader production shift. Georgia offers qualifying unscripted and reality television productions a tax credit of up to 30%, provided they meet the state’s spending requirements.
California has expanded its own production incentive program, but “American Idol” did not receive a California tax credit, according to reporting cited by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Fremantle itself has not publicly provided a detailed explanation of the financial calculations behind the relocation.
The move comes during a difficult period for Los Angeles television production. FilmLA data cited by the Los Angeles Times showed regional television production activity fell 27% in the second quarter compared with the same period a year earlier, with reduced reality-TV production contributing significantly to the decline.
“American Idol” is also not alone. “Shark Tank” has moved production to Atlanta, while “The Masked Singer” has relocated from Los Angeles to New Jersey as producers increasingly consider locations offering more attractive production economics.
There are still unanswered questions about Season 25. Fremantle has been reported to be in talks with an Atlanta-area studio complex, but the exact facility and precisely which portions of the season will be produced in Georgia had not been publicly finalized when the move was announced.
For viewers, “American Idol” will remain a search for the next singing star, but behind the cameras the change is much more significant. Moving a production with decades of Los Angeles history means new facilities and potentially many new crew members, while longtime workers face uncertainty—making Season 25 a major transition not just for the show, but for the people who helped create it.
