Britney Spears is reportedly leaving The X Factor.

While the departure is not yet official, there has been much internet speculation and conversation about her exit and the reasons behind it.

The decision has sparked speculation from some of Hollywood’s top celebrity news sites. Statements from alleged X Factor sources claim that the show’s execs knew that Spears would leave when she first signed on. Her $15 million contract was for the duration of one season.

 The LA Times and Perez Hilton both reference rumors of an album and a subsequent tour in the works for Spears next year. Her departure will be due to her desire to focus on these projects and not due to the quality of her judging skills. Christina Aguilera, a judge on The X Factor’s main competition, The Voice, apparently did not return to film the upcoming season for the same reasons; although, her album, Lotus, was met with lackluster sales.

The show, which Simon Cowell has made quite successful in the U.K., seems to be struggling to reach the same appeal in the States. The first season didn’t do too well and resulted in the first change up of judges, replacing Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger. And who could forget the famous blink of an eye appearance of Cheryl Cole before being replaced by Scherzinger? The singer was apparently fired due to her lack of chemistry with the other judges and her thick Geordie accent.

Scherzinger also cited a desire to focus on her music as her reason for stepping away from the judging chair. Perhaps this is the go to response when an underperforming judge is axed in order to bring in a fresh face that might boost ratings.

The show’s judging panel is also losing LA Reid next season and Demi Lovato has yet to confirm her return. Reid officially made his exit statement in December, telling Access Hollywood: “What other way to leave, than to leave a winner, you know? You always have to know when to bow out. You bow out while you are on top.” Reid was the mentor of this season’s winner, Tate Stevens.

If Lovato joins Spears and Reid in jumping ship, Cowell will yet again be faced with three empty chairs to fill. Polls have already begun on who could possibly fill the spots. The latest polls have offered up candidates ranging from Pink, to Katy Perry, to Kelly Clarkson. Pink has yet to judge a reality singing competition, while Katy Perry has previously appeared on American Idol. Clarkson, meanwhile, has judged for the show, Duets. Clarkson also shares a background with Cowell from her American Idol days and the pairing could be quite interesting, chemistry wise.

The December season finale drew 9.7 million viewers, compared to about 11 million for the first year’s finale.

On Tuesday, Fox network chief Kevin Reilly defended Spears, saying she was doing “a really good job” during a Q&A with the Television Critics Association.

“She came on, people remain fascinated with her and always will be,” he said. “Maybe some people were waiting for more drastic displays of some nature that never came, so for those expecting that, it didn’t happen.”