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.
LAS VEGAS — Usher brought a star-studded 13-minute spectacular to the Super Bowl halftime show stage on Sunday.
And he did it for pretty muchfor free.
That's right, for free.
That's because the Super Bowl performers don't really get paid by the NFL to perform. None of the performers that performed before and during the big game — Usher, Reba McEntire, Post Malone and Andra Day — took home a salary for the day's work.
But despite not getting a paycheck for the performance, Usher and the other Super Bowl performers can still make a massive profit from the game. Here's how:
How much do Super Bowl halftime performers make?
Even without a check from the NFL, performers can still get massive exposure from their halftime show singing, which leads to an uptick in music sales and streaming.
Last year's show featured Rihanna's iconic performancewhile pregnant. She, like decades of halftime artists before her, saw a massive jump in music sales after the performance was watched by an estimated 115 million people — the most-watched television event in U.S. history.
According to data compiled by Forbes, Rihanna's digital album sales climbed by 301%, while digital song sales surged by 390%.
The same thing happened in 2022, when five separate performers — Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem — sang. All of them saw a surge in music sales after their performance was watched live by an estimated 103.4 million people.
And that last part is where the similarities to Usher really begin.
Usher also released an album right before the Super Bowl, likely hoping the massive viewership for his Feb. 11 set will translate to more album sales.
"Coming Home" is Usher's first solo album in eight years. It dropped Friday, Feb. 9, just two days before the big game.
He's also planning a concert tour across the U.S. to support the album.
Credit: AP
Usher performs during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
How much does the Super Bowl halftime show cost?
Although they won't be putting up big money for performer salaries, the NFL still has a hefty bill paying for the expenses of the halftime show production every year.
Even for a set that usually lasts around 15 minutes, it's arguably one of the most expensive performances to televise. Every light, firework or special effect can add thousands of dollars toward the final bill.
The Weeknd, who performed in 2021, likely offset some of his streaming profits because he reportedly dropped $7 million of his own money for the performance, and although the NFL has not confirmed the total price tag, Forbes estimates the show could have cost as much as $20 million.
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 Newsweek reported that under the union agreement that would've been about $1,000 a day for the Jennifer Lopez and Shakira Super Bowl show.
Credit: AP
Usher performs during halftime of Super Bowl 58 Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Do other Super Bowl performers get paid?
Even without Usher, the lineup for the Super Bowl was stacked with talent.
Before kickoff, Reba delivered a stirring performance of the national anthem, Post Malone performed "America the Beautiful" and Andra Day gave a powerful rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
The NFL covered travel expenses for the artists, which is potentially an important plus when Las Vegas' private plane parking situation was expected to be completely packed.
But other than travel and production costs, all of the performers sang at the Super Bowl for free. Whether they see a boost in sales after the fact, well, that's up to the fans.
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FAQs
That's because the Super Bowl performers don't really get paid by the NFL to perform. None of the performers that performed before and during the big game — Usher, Reba McEntire, Post Malone and Andra Day — took home a salary for the day's work.
Why didn't Usher get paid? ›
Why didn't Usher get paid to perform at halftime at the Super Bowl? You may be thinking that the NFL will be willing to pay top dollar to get such an iconic lineup of halftime performers. The truth is, artists that perform at a Super Bowl halftime historically make nothing.
Why don t Super Bowl halftime performers get paid? ›
Brian McCarthy, the NFL's vice president of communications, told Newsweek in 2022: “The NFL covers all costs associated with the show and does pay the performers union scale. There is not an appearance fee, but the artists are indeed paid union scale.”
Do celebrities pay for Super Bowl halftime show? ›
The NFL does, however, cover all the production costs of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, so artists won't be in the red if they play. The NFL also pays for artists' travel expenses to get to and from (and to stay in) the city hosting the big game.
Why won't Usher get paid for the Super Bowl? ›
That's because the Super Bowl performers don't really get paid by the NFL to perform. None of the performers that performed before and during the big game — Usher, Reba McEntire, Post Malone and Andra Day — took home a salary for the day's work.
Did Usher get paid for half time? ›
Usher, like his Super Bowl halftime show predecessors, spent months preparing for the world's biggest stage — but he didn't get paid for any of it. The “Yeah!” singer was the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show performer, following Rihanna in 2023.
Who turned down the Super Bowl halftime show in 2024? ›
For years, Swift has allegedly declined the slot due to having inked a “long-term partnership” with Coca-Cola, the rival brand to the Super Bowl Halftime sponsor, Pepsi. When Apple Music took over as the official sponsor in 2022, there were rumors that she was offered the gig.
How much did Rihanna make for the halftime show? ›
No, Rihanna Did Not Get Paid For Her Epic 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show.
How much did Michael Jackson get paid for the Super Bowl? ›
Although the league does not pay appearance fees for Super Bowl halftime performers, the NFL and Frito-Lay agreed to make a donation of $100,000 to Jackson's Heal the World Foundation, and provide commercial time during the game for the foundation's Heal L.A. campaign, which aimed to provide health care, drug education ...
How much was Katy Perry paid for the Super Bowl? ›
Perry agreed to perform but not to pay for the opportunity, telling Forbes: "I want to be able to say I played the Super Bowl based on my talents and my merit, thank you very much."
The pop star completed her epic trip from her tour stop in Tokyo to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl, walking through security along with friends Blake Lively, Ashley Avignone, Ice Spice and her mom, Andrea Swift. Before the game kicked off, Swift was spotted talking with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in the private box.
How much did Eminem get for Super Bowl? ›
Eminem, like the rest of the legendary hip-hop artists who took the Super Bowl 2022 stage, didn't get paid for his performance.
Why don t singers get paid for Super Bowl halftime show? ›
Do the Superbowl halftime musical performers get paid for their work, or do they do it for free because of the exposure? Per league policy, the NFL will cover all production costs of the halftime show, which can exceed $10 million, but will not pay the performers. Their payoff is the exposure, record sales etc.
How much did Alicia Keys get paid for the Super Bowl? ›
Like every other artist who has performed on the Halftime Show stage, Alicia Keys was not paid for Super Bowl performance.
How much did Prince get paid for the Super Bowl? ›
2001: Aerosmith, NSYNC, $11 million. 2007: Prince, $12 million.
No, Performers Don't Get Paid for the Super ...People.comhttps://people.com ›
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But before you spiral in a rage, please note the NFL has a long and illustrious history of paying their halftime show artists nothing. As one NFL spokesperson put it to Forbes several years ago, “We do not pay the artists.
How much money is Usher worth? ›
R&B singer and songwriter Usher has a net worth of $180 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. In 2023, Usher made $40 million from 34 shows at his residency at Las Vegas' Dolby Live stage.
How much does Usher make per show? ›
How much does Usher make per show? Based on gross ticket sales of close to $1 million per show on average, Usher likely rakes in at least a few hundred thousand per performance.
Why is Usher so rich? ›
It should come as no surprise that Usher's net worth is sky-high—$180 million, to be exact—given his decades-long career. The eight-time Grammy winner, 45, boasts chart-topping albums, acting credits and several lucrative partnerships.
