Even people who don’t follow the NFL have heard about the Super Bowl halftime show. It always ends up being arguably the most electrifying, captivating, and spectacular event ever performed anywhere on the planet. And it doesn’t happen by accident. Rihanna, Katy Perry, Beyonce, Aerosmith, Shakira, Dr. Dre, etc. – the best of the best headline halftime shows. And this time, it’s Kendrick Lamar.

Just a week after winning the Grammy for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, Kendrick Lamar will perform in the Super Bowl LIX Apple Music halftime show along with SZA, his former Top Dawg Entertainment label mate, and a Grammy winner herself. Lamar is also a Pulitzer Prize winner. So, you can grasp the genius and talent of the artists. The next question that may pop up in your mind is – the NFL must be paying millions of dollars for them to perform at the halftime show. Maybe their fee even crosses 10 million. Does it?

Do Kendrick Lamar & SZA Get Paid for the Super Bowl Halftime Show?

Don’t be shocked by what we are about to tell you. The NFL won’t be paying Lamar and SZA anything to perform for the halftime show. Well, not nothing, they will get a minimum wage which is guaranteed under a union contract. In this case, the latest contract drawn up by SAG-AFTRA ensures NFL has to pay Lamar and SZA something in the ballpark of $1,000 a day.

Are you shocked? We are not kidding. The NFL doesn’t pay their artists for performing in the halftime show. Shakira didn’t get paid, Beyonce didn’t, and last year’s headline performer, Usher didn’t. The NFL doesn’t pay any fee to the performers. But they still do spend – on production costs, on travel expenses of the performers, for hotel stays during the event, etc. The major expenditure of the NFL goes into the production costs. In a 2016 interview with Forbes, NFL spokesperson Joanna Hunter said: “We do not pay the artists. We cover expenses and production costs.”

The lighting you see, the extravagant sets, the wardrobe of the performing crew, the special effects – all the things that make the show memorable across decades funded by the NFL. In fact, when we tell you how much the NFL invests in this side of the show, you will be astounded. The allocation for production costs ranges between $10 million and $20 million.

Let us give you a clear picture of it. In 2001, the NFL spent $11 million on the production costs for NSYNC’s performance. In 2007, they spent $12 million for Prince, one of the greatest songwriters and musicians of his generation. When Shakira and Jennifer Lopez performed in 2020, the NFL spent $13 million. Just a minute fraction of this goes into paying the fee, and it’s the same for the entire performing crew – the dancers, the staff, etc.

We will go into why the artists agree to such a deal, and more importantly, what they get out of it. The artists are abstract creators. Their performance is their greatest reward, their most important validation. They are so committed to the cause, that sometimes they even spend from their own end to ensure what they show the world lasts a lifetime. In 2021, The Weeknd’s performance cost around $17 million, and he reportedly spent $7 million himself so that he could do his thing to perfection.

But there has to be a positive payout for all these efforts, right? Well, more than you can possibly imagine.

How Much Do Artists Earn From the Super Bowl Halftime Show?

We mentioned The Weeknd spent $7 million for his halftime show that he didn’t exactly get paid for. Did he do it because he wanted to entertain people, a good feeling of sharing his art with the world, and the cultural significance of what one represents? Well, yes, in a way. But it also pays. After the show, which generally sees around 100 million viewers, these artists experience a massive surge in album sales, ticket sales for following tours, etc.

For example, Beyoncé’s 2013 halftime show led to a boost in her concert ticket prices and album sales. 2022 SB halftime performer, Dr. Dre’s streaming numbers jumped over 185%, translating into windfall earnings for the rapper. After Shakira and JLo’s performance, Shakira’s Spotify streams spiked by 230%; and JLo’s by 335%. 2017 SB star, Lady Gaga saw a mind-blowing 1,000% spike in song and album sales immediately after the Super Bowl.

Justin Timberlake’s halftime show helped him increase his sales by 534% – wow. Talk about outrageous!!! And this is not the only way. These artists also book tours close to the Super Bowl so that their tour shows are sold out to the brim. Many performers announce their tour right after the Super Bowl show, cashing in on the fresh memory of the magic they created.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA have gone the same route. They are already hit artists, and they know the Super Bowl is only going to boost their image and revenue further. 2 months ago, Lamar had already announced his tour – the Grand National Tour. It will involve a 19-city tour starting on April 19 in Minnesota. Tickets are already being sold through different sites like StubHub, Vivid Seats, and SeatGeek, aside from Ticketmaster.

It pays to do a practically unpaid NFL halftime show. It’s just that you have to be the chosen one.