The Super Bowl halftime show is essentially the biggest concert of the year. Sure, it might top out at just 15 minutes or so, but there’s no event with more eyeballs on it than the Super Bowl. The 2020 Jennifer Lopez and Shakira Super Bowl halftime show cost around $13 million, Esquire reported. This would put it under the SAG-AFTRA basic agreement for performers, which covers anything As it turns out, artists do not get paid for the Super Bowl Halftime Show—at least not by the NFL. The NFL does, however, cover all the production costs of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, so The Weeknd rehearses for the Super Bowl LV Halftime Show at Raymond James Stadium on February 04, 2021. Kevin Mazur/Getty. In 2021, the NFL was criticized for not paying dancers fairly as half the It makes total sense when you consider artists drop the number of zeros from their usual invoice for the same reason companies will pay $6.5 million for a 30-second ad this year. The Super Bowl is the most-watched event on television, drawing millions of viewers each year. In the last 60 years, the Super Bowl halftime festivities have gone from being a family-oriented show to becoming entertainment’s biggest stage. Watch Party Newsletter Movies to see in 2025 🎬 THE SUPER BOWL half-time show has become one of the most eagerly awaited moments in the pop culture calendar, drawing in million of viewers (including a huge number of non-football fans) each year The Real Reason the NFL Doesn’t Pay Super Bowl Halftime Show Performers. artists tapped for the halftime show can learn a few things from 2021's headliner, the Weeknd. According to a Sports Illustrated report, Usher was paid "$671 for the actual performance last year and about $1,800 for the rehearsals leading up to the Super Bowl." Still, "the halftime show at With over 100 million viewers watching, the Super Bowl halftime show carries immense value—so much so that the NFL once explored whether artists would pay for the opportunity. When Beyoncé performed in 2013 without compensation, sources revealed the production costs reached approximately $600,000. In 2021, The Weeknd’s halftime show sparked backlash when it was revealed that half the dancers worked as unpaid volunteers. Those who did receive compensation were paid $712 for the main performance, $45 per hour for rehearsals, and a $30 daily stipend, per the Los Angeles Times. However, the real value of the Super Bowl halftime show lies in its unprecedented exposure. The 2024 performance headlined by Usher drew massive viewership, continuing the trend set by Rihanna's The Super Bowl Halftime Show is one of the most prestigious events in music. Because of the high viewership, it’s arguably the year’s biggest concert. However, the artists are not paid to perform at halftime. Do Artists Get Paid To Perform At The Super Bowl Halftime Show? Catch @kendricklamar with guest @sza. According to a Sports Illustrated report, Usher was paid "$671 for the actual performance last year and about $1,800 for the rehearsals leading up to the Super Bowl." Still, "the halftime show at Usher says 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show will pay tribute to the Black artists who came before him. The singer said he's thinking about "all of the R&B performers who I carry in this moment." NFL vice president of communications Brian McCarthy told Newsweek in 2022 that the league doesn't pay halftime performers an "appearance fee, but the artists are indeed paid union scale." But Artists who perform at the Super Bowl half-time show get paid very little if at all for their performances. Singer Lady Gaga performs during the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LI Halftime Show at Hip-hop's Harry Houdini, Kendrick Lamar, will attempt his biggest trick yet when he takes the stage for the Super Bowl 59 halftime show in New Orleans on Sunday. For an artist who thrives in The production surrounding the Super Bowl halftime show can cost millions of dollars and is arguably one of the biggest performances of the year for artists. More Videos Next up in 5 How much does the Super Bowl halftime show cost? 01:15 Why doesn't the NFL pay Super Bowl halftime performers? The NFL has a long-standing policy of only paying union scale for halftime performers
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |