Super Bowl Halftime Performers don’t get Paid

If you clicked on this article because of that shocking headline, first of all I wrote it myself, so thank you, and second of all no, it is not a lie, these performers really don’t get compensated.

24 of the 25 most viewed TV programs watched in American history are Super Bowls and these halftime performers still don’t get paid for their efforts.

How does that work?

The talent gets a more than sizeable budget to spend on the performance, but this years performer, The Weeknd, put in an extra seven million dollars out of pocket for Super Bowl LV.

All of this can easily equate to feeling sorry for the artist, but the NFL sees it a little bit differently, and maybe justifiably so.

The NFL Director of Programming Lawrence Randall told Time “We’re putting someone up there for 12 and a half minutes in front of the largest audience that any television program garners in the United States, It’s a pretty good deal. It’s the famous win-win for both parties.”

Randall may have a valid point as it has been proven true that every artist that performs gets their listenership increased tremendously. 

The Weeknd is already a globally famous superstar that makes more money to know what to do with, but this year will be another one where can see how this “win-win” thing really shakes out.

Below, watch Shakira and JLo’s performance last year in Super Bowl LIV where the Chiefs became champions for the first time in 50 years.