How Much Do Super Bowl Halftime Performers Get Paid?
There are two types of people in this world: those who watch the Super Bowl and actually understand what is going on, and those who are just simply waiting for the halftime show to come on! 😂
That said, Super Bowl Sunday appeals to pretty much everyone. Think about it: Who doesn't want to snack on the best game day foods while watching Super Bowl commercials? While football fanatics are waiting to see if the Chiefs or the 49ers win, the other half of us will be eagerly waiting for halftime performer Usher to take over the field for those 12 to 14 minutes. We're sure Usher has put in lots of time and effort to prepare one of the biggest concerts of the year, so he must get paid accordingly. Right...? Not necessarily.
As we wait for Usher to make his first solo debut on the Super Bowl halftime stage—hopefully singing all of his classics—read on to find out how much he and other Super Bowl headliners are paid for their performances.
How much do Super Bowl halftime performers get paid?
Believe it or not, Super Bowl halftime performers get paid next to nothing.
"There is not an appearance fee," NFL Vice President of Communications Brian McCarthy tells ThePioneerWoman.com. "But the artists are paid union scale." (According to Forbes, union scale is "a fraction of the six- and seven-figure sums" the artists typically earn.)
Of course, this doesn't mean the sports league isn't spending any money to make the production happen. "The NFL covers all costs associated with the show," McCarthy confirms, including production and travel expenses. For a "million-dollar-a-minute"performance that typically lasts around 13 minutes, that price adds up quickly.
For reference, the NFL spent around $13 million in 2020, getting everything ready for the performer's of that year, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.
Will Usher be paid for his Super Bowl halftime show?
Nope! Just like his predecessors, Usher will not be paid for his Super Bowl halftime show this year. That doesn't mean Usher won't be ringing in some serious cash after the Super Bowl, though.
While the Super Bowl halftime performers don't get a big paycheck, the rare exposure they historically earn from the show has made it a coveted position. Last year, Rihanna's song discography had a sale increase of about 390%. In 2021, streams of The Weeknd's songs rose nearly 69% after he headlined Super Bowl LV, even with an unexpected drop in viewers that year. Spotify reports that JLo and Shakira's streams surged by 335% and 230% respectively following their joint performance in 2020. And Justin Timberlake's music sales skyrocketed by 534% after his 2018 appearance.
How's that for Super Bowl trivia? (Check out how much money the Super Bowl winners and losers make next!)
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