Here's Why Rihanna Didn't Get Paid For Her StunningSuper Bowl LVII Halftime Show
The Super Bowl LVII halftime show marked a comeback for Rihanna. Since her 2018 Grammys appearance, it was her first time performing live in front of more than 100 million viewers. The beauty mogul sported a red ensemble and a brand-new baby bump during the highly anticipated live performance, and she went viral seconds after her performance aired. The superstar opened her performance with B**** Better Have My Money, yet that's the exact thing the singer didn't get out of her explosive performance at the show. According to People, while the famed halftime show often attracts the biggest names in music (everyone from Beyoncé to Bruce Springsteen has graced the stage), there's actually no paycheck involved for the headlining act.
While the NFL does not write out large checks to performers who take the stage during half-time, the costs associated with their performance are covered by the league, according to Newsweek.
The NFL also has to pay "union scale," an amount dictated by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA). The funds go to the union, which then distributes them to the performers. "The NFL covers all costs associated with the show and does pay the performers' union scale. There is not an appearance fee, but the artists are indeed paid union scale," Brian McCarthy, the NFL's vice president of communications said.
Halftime shows began as a way to entertain fans in the middle of the game, The Washington Post reported. The first show was in 1967 and featured just two bands, who formed shapes like the paddle boat and the Liberty Bell as a part of their act. It wasn't until Michael Jackson's 1993 halftime show performance that the show began to attract more viewership. The majority of halftime shows in the last decade have attracted more than 100 million viewers. Recent shows have been headlined by stars like Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and Shakira.
Artists often see a boost in sales immediately after the show, along with the chance to increase their social media followings. This is one of the biggest reasons why RiRi chose the Super Bowl LVII halftime show for coming back into the limelight.
Brands Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty scored big from Sunday’s spectacle. The performance was a few days before Valentine’s Day, a historically busy time for the lingerie industry. Both brands have launched a limited edition “game day” line, featuring football-themed sweats and shirts that read, “Rihanna concert interrupted by a football game, weird but whatever.” Lipsticks and even ball-shaped makeup sponges are a part of this Valentine's Day line.
Forbes reported that Pepsi has been a longtime sponsor of the show in the past. In September 2022, the NFL and Apple announced that Apple Music will become the new sponsor of the Super Bowl halftime show. It's not clear at the moment if Rihanna spent any additional money of her own on the show, but an NFL spokesperson the magazine that Apple Music will help them in "footing the bill" for Rihanna's performance.
