How much do Super Bowl halftime show performers get paid?

NEW ORLEANS — Kendrick Lamar brought “All the Stars” to his Super Bowl halftime performance, infusing his Los Angeles hip-hop flair into the Big Easy. 

Many fans may be wondering about the payout for one of television’s most-watched musical performances. 

The answer might surprise you. 

Like his predecessors, Lamar isn’t paid for his performance beyond a modest union-mandated fee.

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.

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. 

The rap megastar, who has won 17 Grammys, performed as a guest artist with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Eminem at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2022.

Lamar was 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.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.