Did you know that Super Bowl halftime performers, Rihanna included, are not paid for performing? If you are curious, we have the explanation!
Rihanna isn’t being compensated for her musical comeback
As noted by Forbes, Rihanna would not receive any monetary benefit from singing at Super Bowl halftime. The reason for this has nothing to do with her status as a billionaire but is simply custom–previous halftime performers, like Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce were also not paid for performing live. Historically, it has been the rule for years. Cosmopolitan reported that an NFL spokesperson claimed that even though the artists are unpaid the NFL would still “cover expenses and production costs”. This year, Apple Music is also helping with production costs.
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History of Super Bowl Halftime shows
According to the Washington Post, the first-ever Super Bowl entertainment happened in 1967 when two groups of college bands stood in a formation resembling the American Liberty Bell. In 1969, a similar form of entertainment was provided, with band members from Florida A&M University forming the shape of a giant American eagle. It wasn’t until 1970, when Broadway star Carol Channing sang “When The Saints Go Marching In”, that Super Bowl halftime started to be synonymous with pop stars and celebrities making appearances.
Halftime Show A Great Exposure for Rihanna
Rihanna has stated in an interview that the short 13 minutes of the halftime show is “going to be a celebration of [her] catalog in the best way that we could’ve put it together”. The Lift Me Up singer is rumored to have a tour coming up soon, so the halftime show is the perfect way for her to promote her work and boost ticket sales. On top of that, there is an annual trend that whoever performs at Super Bowl halftime will see their songs soaring on multiple streaming platforms, as was the case for Shakira and Jennifer Lopez in 2020 after they appeared on the world’s biggest stage. Jennifer Lopez also gained millions of new followers on her social media after performing with Shakira, as noted by ET Canada.
Image credit: Christopher Polk/Variety/Getty Images
Published by HOLR Magazine