Why Usher Won’t Be Paid For His Super Bowl Halftime Show
Usher
Usher is this year's (long-awaited) Super Bowl Halftime Show headliner—but many fans are wondering, how much money is the "My Way" singer expected to make for the coveted gig?
The answer is simple: zero dollars. Yep, you read that right, he won't make anything. As it goes, performers for the famed sporting event's musical show don't actually walk away with any monetary gain at all.
To clarify, though, just because the performance isn't associated with a check, doesn't mean there's no profit on the horizon for the "My Boo" singer.
As it goes, not being paid for the Super Bowl Halftime Show is customary, and headliners in the past have not been paid either, as subsequent success comes in the form of other accolades, such as increased sales and attention.
According to Billboard, on the day of Lady Gaga's 2017 performance, her digital album and song sales shot up a whopping 1,000 percent. Similarly, 2020's co-headliners Jennifer Lopez and Shakira saw similar increases, with The Mother star gaining 187 percent in song streams, and the "Hips Don't Lie" songstress' streams increasing by 267 percent. Two of the Colombia native's albums also re-entered the Billboard Top 200 as a result of the show's positive exposure.
There is even potential for award nominations. Rihanna's 2023 Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show performance received a mind-blowing five Emmy nods, after becoming the most-watched halftime show in history with over 121 million viewers, per Billboard (she dethroned 2015 Super Bowl XLIX's Katy Perry).
Related: How Much Do Artists Get Paid for the Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Of the display that the whole world looks forward to watching yearly, the "Yeah!" artist opened up about the honor to be tapped for the spot, sharing his anticipation along with that of his fans', calling it a "bucket-list" accomplishment.
While teasing that this "grand opportunity" has been "30 years in the making," he made sure to note that his biggest priority in preparing for the setlist is making sure that his four "kids approve."
In other recent developments for the R&B crooner, he just wrapped up his intimate Las Vegas residency and is set to release his latest album, Coming Home, on Feb. 9—just in time to provide some new material for him to hit the stage with on the big night.
Catch Usher's halftime show during Super Bowl LVIII—where the Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the San Francisco 49ers—on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 PM ET on CBS.
