Kendrick Lamar will perform at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show — however, he will not receive any payment for his act.
Kendrick Lamar has dedicated months to getting ready for the Super Bowl halftime show after being named the performer in September 2024 — yet he won’t receive any payment for his preparation.
The “Not Like Us” artist is performing after winning five Grammys for the song the week before. He most recently took the stage at a brief concert in 2022, performing alongside fellow Los Angeles hip-hop icons Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Mary J. Blige for a short version of his popular track “Alright.”
“Rap music remains the most influential genre up to now.” And I will be present to remind everyone why. “They chose the correct one,” the Grammy-winning musician stated in a declaration after his selection as the main performer was revealed.
The program, recognized as one of the most-watched television events annually, usually lasts from 12 to 15 minutes – and the artists receive no compensation for any part of it.
Nevertheless, the opportunity to perform on such a grand platform has drawn elite artists over the years, including Beyoncé and The Weeknd. Although there is no salary, the NFL covers the expenses needed to produce the show, which amounted to $13 million in 2020, according to Reuters. They additionally pay for the artists’ travel costs.
“We do not compensate the artists,” an NFL representative informed Forbes in 2016. “We handle costs and production expenses.”
Here’s all you need to understand regarding how the NFL funds the Super Bowl halftime performance — and why it remains lucrative for the performers.
Is Kendrick Lamar going to be paid for his Super Bowl halftime performance?
No. Similar to previous performers, no one receives compensation for their halftime show performance. According to Forbes, the artists receive compensation based on a “union scale,” which represents only a small part of the six or seven-figure earnings they typically generate for a performance, and is a minimum pay secured by a union agreement. Per SAG-AFTRA’s latest contract, this would total more than $1,000 daily.
“The Super Bowl halftime performance is still a highly sought-after opportunity for numerous artists,” said entertainment lawyer Lori Landew to the outlet in 2019.
She mentioned, “Certain artists don’t consider their looks a political statement, nor do they see the performance as a cultural battlefield; instead, they regard their live shows as a chance to delight an excited audience and to showcase their music and talent to millions of spectators.”
Has anyone ever been paid?
No one has received payment for their performances, but at one time, the NFL considered charging artists to perform. In 2015, the NFL requested that artists like Rihanna, Coldplay, and Katy Perry pay for the opportunity to perform on the grand stage. Nevertheless, they ultimately refused.
Although Perry consented to perform, she stated that she declined to pay because she didn’t want that linked to her name throughout her career.
“I don’t want an asterisk next to my name for participating in the Super Bowl for my entire life,” Perry mentioned to Forbes. “I wish to claim that I competed in the Super Bowl due to my skills and abilities, thank you very much.”
Do the dancers get paid?
In 2021, the NFL faced backlash for inadequately compensating dancers, as half of those in The Weeknd’s show were unpaid “volunteers.” As reported by the Los Angeles Times, a dancer who volunteered for the show mentioned that paid dancers earned $712 for the Super Bowl performance and $45 an hour for their rehearsal time. They were also given a $30 daily allowance and a $250 COVID stipend if they needed to go to a clinic for testing on a day they weren’t scheduled to work.
Initially, numerous unpaid dancers were unaware that they would be performing with paid dancers and that this experience could count as one of the three union jobs necessary for SAG-AFTRA eligibility.
Upon receiving notice of the problem, SAG-AFTRA convened with the show’s producers to create guidelines that guaranteed payment for dancers and other staff members.
SAG-AFTRA and the Super Bowl Halftime Show producers held a candid discussion and agreed that no dancers will be requested to perform without compensation for the halftime event,” the union stated in a message to the Los Angeles Times. “SAG-AFTRA will inform our professional dancer members that they ought to refrain from rehearsing or participating in the Super Bowl halftime show without receiving payment.”
Why do artists perform at the Super Bowl without pay?
Receiving a paycheck for performing at the Super Bowl isn’t always the main focus for singers because of the additional benefits that accompany the event. The exposure itself boosts album and tour sales for artists, including those who currently have nothing to promote.
Traditionally, the streams of performing artists surge the day following the big game. As reported by Newsweek, Spotify indicated that following the Super Bowl halftime show in 2020, Shakira experienced a 230% increase in streams, while Jennifer Lopez’s music saw a surge of 335%. Following Justin Timberlake’s 2018 performance, his music sales surged by 534%, according to Billboard. Likewise, Bruno Mars’ album sales for Unorthodox Jukebox soared by 92%, moving him from no. 7 to no. 3 on the Billboard Top 200, as reported by Forbes.
Traditionally, the streams of performing artists surge the day following the major game. As reported by Newsweek, Spotify indicated that following the 2020 Super Bowl halftime performance, Shakira experienced a 230% increase in streams, whereas Jennifer Lopez’s music catalog rose by 335%. Following Justin Timberlake’s 2018 performance, his music sales increased by 534%, according to Billboard. Likewise, Bruno Mars’ album sales for Unorthodox Jukebox surged by 92%, boosting him from no. 7 on the Billboard Top 200 to no. 3, as reported by Forbes.
Over time, the show’s budget has consistently increased, rising from $1 million for Bruce Springsteen in 2009 to $13 million for Lopez and Shakira in 2020. As per Billboard, The Weeknd contributed an additional $7 million of his personal funds to realize his vision through his performance.
The connection between artists and the NFL is mutually beneficial, with Rihanna’s 2023 performance attracting 118.7 million viewers, the highest in television history, according to Forbes.
For Lamar, the show occurs a few months after the unexpected launch of his album, GNX, in November 2024. The rapper revealed his Grand National tour featuring SZA, who will perform with him on the Super Bowl stage weeks later, as both gear up to perform in stadiums across the country in the summer of 2025.
What have artists said about the lack of pay?
During a 2021 interview with Billboard, Jon Landau, Springsteen’s manager, shared his thoughts on why he agreed to the artist’s performance, reminiscing about his initial encounter with the NFL.
“They provided me with 10 minutes of bullet points detailing the immense popularity of the Super Bowl; it’s the top program on Jupiter and Mars, the leading choice for women, and the favorite among those who neglect dental hygiene.” “They mentioned a transaction of $1 billion — that’s what I recall them saying,” he told the outlet.
He expressed, “‘I have a question: How much do you earn for being involved in the largest show ever in the universe? What does the creator receive? The income from the performance for Bruce and the band: nothing. However, it was magnificently crafted; Bruce and the band were amazing, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Until you arrive, you can’t grasp how many individuals are involved in that show.
Do the other Super Bowl performers get paid?
In addition to the halftime show, the Super Bowl also includes other performances at the beginning of the game each year. In 2025, Jon Batiste is set to sing the national anthem, Trombone Shorty will present “America the Beautiful” with Christian artist Lauren Daigle, and R&B vocalist Ledisi will wrap up the pre-game acts with “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Nevertheless, similar to the halftime show artist, none receive compensation beyond union rates.