NEW ORLEANS — As Kendrick Lamar prepares to take center stage at Super Bowl LIX, many fans might be wondering about the payout for one of television’s most-watched musical performances.
The answer might surprise you. Like his predecessors, Lamar won’t be paid for his performance beyond a modest union-mandated fee.
How much do Super Bowl performers get paid?
The NFL may cover travel costs for artists, but maintains its long-standing tradition of not paying performers for the pregame and halftime shows beyond the minimum union scale requirements. Under union agreements, this typically amounts to around $1,000 per day for rehearsals and the performance itself. That means no splashy appearance fees for these major artists.
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 2023 show which attracted 115 million viewers. For artists, this exposure typically translates into significant increases in music sales and streaming numbers.
Kendrick Lamar is no stranger to the Super Bowl stage, having previously performed as part of the historic 2022 hip-hop showcase alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary J. Blige. During that appearance, all performers experienced substantial streaming increases, with some artists seeing jumps of over 140% in streaming numbers.
How much does a Super Bowl halftime show cost?
While performers don’t receive direct compensation, the production costs for the halftime show are substantial. Recent performances have seen budgets ranging from $10-20 million, covering everything from elaborate stage designs to pyrotechnics.
The NFL shoulders most of these production expenses, although some artists, such as The Weeknd, have said they’ve contributed some of their own money to help foot the massive bill.
Who is Kendrick Lamar, and who is joining him for the Super Bowl LIX halftime show?
Kendrick Lamar will be the headliner for the halftime show.
The rap megastar, who has won 17 Grammys, said he’s looking forward to bringing hip-hop to the NFL’s championship game, where he performed as a guest artist with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Eminem in 2022.
Lamar will be joined on stage by Grammy winner SZA — his former Top Dawg Entertainment labelmate. The singer appeared on Lamar’s recent album “GNX” and was featured on a couple of songs including “Gloria” and “Luther,” which also features sampled vocals from Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn.
The duo’s previous hits include the Oscar-nominated “All the Stars” and “Doves in the Wind.” Jay-Z’s Roc Nation company and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show.
When is the Super Bowl and what channel is it on?
It Super Bowl starts at roughly 6:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, Feb. 9.
The game will be aired on Fox. Kevin Burkhardt will be the play-by-play announcer with former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as the analyst. This is Brady’s first Super Bowl as an announcer. He won seven titles as a player. Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi are also part of the broadcast team.