The Super Bowl halftime show is one of the most coveted gigs for many performers — but does the opportunity come with payment?
Over the years, artists including Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny have taken the stage for a 15-minute set during one of the most-watched TV broadcasts of the year. But while the performances have led to exposure and widespread attention, the performers have historically not received money directly.
The Super Bowl offer has reportedly come with travel expenses and production costs being covered — but nothing else. Regardless, some of music’s biggest names have accepted the offer even without a paycheck involved.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about how artists are paid for performing at the Super Bowl:
Cardi B and More Celebrities Who Turned Down Super Bowl Appearances
Do Super Bowl Halftime Performers Get Paid?
While performers of Super Bowl caliber can bring in six or seven-figure profits, the money doesn’t come directly from the sporting event. Instead, they are paid a “union scale,” which could amount to over $1,000 a day based on SAG-AFTRA’s latest contract.
“The halftime show at the Super Bowl remains a highly coveted spot for many artists,” entertainment attorney Lori Landew told Forbes in February 2019. “Some of those artists do not see their appearance as a political statement, nor do they see the show as a cultural battleground, but rather view their live performance as an opportunity to entertain an enthusiastic crowd and to share their music and their talent with millions of viewers.”
The NFL went on record confirming there is no compensation for the gig, with spokesperson Joanna Hunter telling Forbes in 2016, “We do not pay the artists. We cover expenses and production costs.”
However, performing at the Super Bowl has led to more exposure for each artist. Newsweek reported that Shakira’s music streams went up over 230 percent after she took the stage at the 2020 Super Bowl. Her coheadliner, Jennifer Lopez, saw her music streams increase by 335 percent, while Justin Timberlake’s 2018 show earned him a 534 percent increase. Forbes also noted that Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance in 2025 resulted in album sales increasing by 10,100 percent.
The halftime show has also led to Emmy nominations and wins for Lamar, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and 50 Cent.
Has Anyone Been Paid for Their Super Bowl Halftime Performance?
The short answer is no. But the NFL has tried to charge performers for taking the stage. Rihanna, Coldplay and Katy Perry each declined that offer, with Perry later opening up about finding a way to sing without paying for the gig.
“I don’t want an asterisk by my name for playing the Super Bowl for the rest of my life,” she told Forbes in 2015. “I want to be able to say I played the Super Bowl based on my talents and my merit, thank you very much.”
Are Super Bowl Halftime Show Dancers Paid?
The NFL was previously slammed for not compensating dancers after The Weeknd‘s performance featured unpaid “volunteers” on stage. The Los Angeles Times reported in 2021 that dancers were paid $712 for the Super Bowl performance and $45 per hour for rehearsal time. They also got a $30 per diem and a $250 COVID stipend if they had to get tested outside of work hours.
Unpaid dancers got their union involved after realizing the opportunity could have made them eligible for SAG-AFTRA.
“SAG-AFTRA and the producers of the Super Bowl Halftime Show have met and had an open and frank discussion, and have agreed that no professional dancers will be asked to work for free as part of the halftime show,” the union said in a statement at the time. “SAG-AFTRA will be advising our professional dancer members that they should not be rehearsing or working on the Super Bowl halftime show without compensation.”
Jay-Z, Daughter Blue Ivy and More Stars Have the Best Time at Super Bowl LX
Have Artists Addressed the Lack of Payment?
Bruce Springsteen‘s manager Jon Landau previously claimed he was given a limited window to decide whether to accept the Super Bowl offer for his client. (Springsteen and the E Street Band performed at the 2009 game.)
“They gave me 10 minutes worth of bullet points about how big the Super Bowl is, it’s the No. 1 show on Jupiter and Mars, it’s No. 1 with women, it’s No. 1 with people who don’t brush their teeth. There’s $1 billion transacted,” Landau told Billboard in 2021. “I remember them saying that.”
Landau, however, was mostly concerned about the paycheck. “[I said], ‘I have one question: What do you get paid to be part of the biggest show in the history of the universe? What does the artist get?’ Earnings for the show for Bruce and the band: zero. But it was beautifully produced, Bruce and the band were sensational, and we loved it. Until you’re there, you can’t comprehend how many people work on that show.”
Are Other Super Bowl Performers Compensated?
Similar to the halftime show, any artist who sings the national anthem or other songs throughout the event does not receive payment.
