The Voice has made major changes to its coach roster for Season 25, which premiered last month.

The new panel sees country duo Dan + Shay join returning judges Chance the Rapper, Reba, and John Legend.

However, a source has shared exclusively with The U.S. Sun that network heads are “tightening spending” without affecting show quality.

The singing competition show is reportedly still one of the biggest revenue generators for NBC, but the “talent budget” is being carefully scrutinized.

The secret move was spilled by an NBC contractor, who revealed that across the program teams.

“There is a substantial trimming of costs and ways of looking at not increasing spending.” 

The source revealed to The U.S. Sun that the wages for judges are at the top of the spending sheets. 

While Reba is getting a big payout, that figure won’t be increasing, and it’s also less than coaches have gotten in the past. 

The source claimed, “You can trim the budgets here and there but the reality is that the biggest fees come from the judges’ pay. 

“Losing a couple of staff members saves you hundreds of thousands of dollars, but bringing in a freeze on pay raises and lesser deals for talent is a way to trim millions.”

“Reba is getting around $13 million a season and that is the higher end of the fee range for talent – and a very substantial sum.

“It’s understood there is no room for that figure to rise, so very quietly behind the scenes private talks are taking place with agents and talent about those deals. 

“There are a few household names that would happily take a $8 million payday, which is the lower end of the earnings for stars,” the source said.

One production member said that former judges Niall Horan and Camilla Cabello earned the lower amount of around $8 million, while Adam Levine got over $14.5 million, “so there is room for the network to negotiate these large sums.”

“It is a very quiet situation where the clamp is coming down on these high salaries,” they added.

All this comes as The Voice has seen two of its biggest stars abruptly exit.

Blake Shelton shocked audiences in 2023 when he announced he was leaving the show early in the year – followed by his wife Gwen Stefani announcing her departure in December.

In an exclusive on-camera interview with The U.S. Sun at the 11th Makeup Artists & Hair Stylists Guild (MUAHS) Awards in Beverly Hills, California, The Voice staff hairstylists Jerilynn and Darbie addressed the recent show shake-ups.

“Now with Reba back… I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with Blake gone, but I really love her,” she explained, referring to the country star.

“And then having Dan and Shay for the double chair, that’s a really cool new experience.”

“The show is constantly evolving,” Jerilynn confessed.

Addressing Blake and Adam Levine leaving the show, the Hollywood stylist stated, “We kept going. Everyone’s always replaceable.

“I mean, truly, it brings a new fresh feel to the show.”

Jerilynn also talked about Blake and Gwen’s on-camera chemistry when they were both on the show.

“People love Blake and Gwen together – I mean, who doesn’t?” Jerilynn asked.

She continued to share that the couple is “super cute to watch and it was really great to see their relationship kind of blossom on the show too.”

Gwen shared that she was leaving the show this time to work on new music.

But although Gwen has left The Voice, there may be a chance she could return, as she has an on-and-off history with the show.

This also comes as The Voice is reportedly in a “bitter battle” with America’s Got Talent for ratings.

Show executives hope the new cast will give The Voice the boost it needs to remain on top in ratings.

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Source: USA Today