Idol Chatter & Voice Views

TMZ has reported that Britney Spears is definitely leaving as judge on The X Factor, deciding instead to focus on making an eighth album.

And now MTV says it has confirmed the same, that Britney won’t be back, and that she quit because she knew she wouldn’t be asked back anyway.

If the reports are true, the news is hardly surprising.

New judges Britney and Demi Lovato were expected to boost The X Factor ratings in Season 2.

Instead, ratings headed in the opposite direction. NBC rival The Voice soared; X Factor flopped.

And while Lovato came relatively cheap in terms of salaries for singing show judges and seemed to develop a rapport with Simon Cowell, Britney was reportedly earning $15 million.

What did Simon get for his $15 million?

An initial wave of interest spurred by Britney’s return to the limelight.

Lots of strange facial expressions.

Lots of brief critiques that lacked any sense of flair.

Little understanding of the songs her contestants (the young teens) would be able to connect with lyrically. Many of them were just too mature for 13-year-olds.

Perhaps most notably, she managed to lose with the one truly remarkable singer The X Factor found in Season 2 — Carly Rose Sonenclar.

So will anyone miss Britney if her time as an X Factor judge is truly over?

I doubt it.