Just How Much Does It Cost To Put On A Star-Studded Super Bowl Halftime Show?

When it was first announced that Eminem, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar would be sharing the stage at the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show, audiences around the world erupted with euphoric glee. This was peak ‘90s, a shot of nostalgia that landed like a missile on the heart. Here were the artists that provided the soundtrack to our most formative experiences, the songs that coloured our days and the anthems we lived by. So, as people around the world lock their eyes on their TV screens watching two teams battle it out in the biggest football game of the year, just how much is that halftime show costing? 

Combining the biggest forces in rap and hip-hop, it’s safe to assume that no expense has been spared for this Super Bowl halftime show. The Weeknd’s performance in 2021 reportedly saw the singer spend $7 million of his own money in addition to the NFL’s production budget, according to reports from Billboard. Not surprisingly, most suggest that given there will be five artists on the stage, the NFL has probably spent upwards of millions just to get a stage big enough for these music stars to perform together. 

According to Variety, Dr Dre is also bringing in two deaf rappers – Sean Forbes and Warren “WaWa” Snipe – marking the first time sign language interpreters will be included in the halftime show. It serves to forge a new path ahead which sees the NFL cater to all audiences, even those who may not even be interested in the game. But while you’d expect Dr. Dre to get a handsome sum with his incredible credentials and a resume that boasts tracks with all those artists set to perform on the day, performers historically aren’t paid for their performance at the Super Bowl. Rather, the NFL pays for production costs to set up the performance. This figure isn’t advertised and varies each year. 

According to Forbes, the 2021 show cost around $10 million. In 2020, when Shakira and Jennifer Lopez shared a stage, it reportedly cost $13 million. While this year’s figure isn’t known, it’s likely to be in the range of $10-15 million, if not higher. 

So, if the performers aren’t being paid, why do it? Well, you’ve got to assume it’s a love for the music first and foremost. But for a number of artists, it also often coincides with the launch of a new album, or can simply serve to increase streaming numbers. As Newsweek reported, following Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s performance, Lopez had a 335 per cent spike in streaming, and Shakira a 230 per cent spike.