Surprising amount Kendrick Lamar will make for 2025 Super Bowl halftime show

While many would assume Kendrick Lamar and other Super Bowl halftime show performers would be paid the big bucks for their epic performances – surprisingly, this isn't true. Kendrick took the stage this year after winning multiple awards at the Grammys last week, including Song of the Year for 'Not Like Us'.

The rapper followed in the footsteps of artists like The Weeknd, Beyonce, Rihanna, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira to name just a few. He was joined onstage by special guest star SZA for the performance where they performed their Oscar-winning song 'All The Stars' from the Marvel film, Black Panther.

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Do performers get paid to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show?

The Super Bowl halftime show is always a huge moment for American football's biggest day of the year. The star-studded performances often create viral moments and cost millions of dollars.

These performances are also viewed by millions of people worldwide. Even if you don't care about football, you've probably tuned in for the halftime show, right?

You might have thought that the NFL is willing the pay top dollar for their performances, however, Super Bowl halftime show performers have historically made nothing from the league.

In 2016, NFL spokesperson Joanna Hunter told Forbes, "We do not pay the artists. We cover expenses and production costs."

These production costs include things like lights, special effects and other elements.

Reuters reported that when PepsiCo sponsored the halftime show in 2020, production costs were around A$21 million.

Why do artists perform at the Super Bowl halftime show if they don't get paid?

If the artists aren't getting paid for the performance, why would they bother taking on the gig, you might ask?

Well, as we mentioned previously, millions of people watch the halftime show and through this, the artists generally reap major financial benefits and can display their talents for audiences who might not typically listen to their music.

The halftime show gives performers an unmatched opportunity to promote their new albums, upcoming tours or other projects.

Marc Ganis, president of consulting firm Sportscorp, previously shared of JLo and Shakira, "They are willing to perform for free and even subsidize the production costs through their record label or concert promoters because of this incredible exposure."

"Even the biggest names need to continually promote themselves. The Super Bowl halftime show is the single biggest promotional vehicle for a music star on the planet."

In 2020, it was revealed by a Spotify spokesperson that the halftime show caused a spike in Shakira's streams by 230 per cent, while JLo's went up 335 per cent. In 2018, Justin Timberlake's performance helped him increase sales by 534 per cent, according to Billboard.

Last year, Usher timed the sale of his tour tickets for the Monday after the game to cash in on the performance. His listener count on Apple Music also increased by 1,200 per cent.

Maroon 5's per-city average on the road went up A$319,000 to A$2.7m after their performance at the 2019 Super Bowl. Travis Scott, who joined the band onstage, more than doubled his annual earnings that year from A$33m to around A$92m.

How much do Super Bowl halftime shows cost?

The production costs for these shows are often incredibly pricey, and more often than not go over the $10 million mark.

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In 2021, The Weeknd spent about A$11 million of his own money to ensure he created a "cinematic experience". The NFL covered his travel and other production fees so he could deliver the best concert atmosphere for the millions watching.

Who chooses the Super Bowl halftime show performer?

Since Jay-Z's entertainment company Roc Nation partnered with the NFL in 2019, he has been the man to choose the musical headliner for the halftime show.

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