- Usher will be the headliner at the halftime Super Bowl show this year
- The artist won't be getting paid for his showing
- THIS is the reason and the details behind it
"It will definitely be an event," Usher teases to the magazine. "There are special guests. And I've considered new songs. But you know, it's 12 to 15 minutes. So it's really hard to determine what moment matters more than others, especially with a new song. But there's the dance, the wardrobe, the lighting, how long you stay in a song, the fact that the audience may sing along … It's a lot. So I'm trying my hardest not to overthink it."
But here's the catch...
In a revelation that's sending shockwaves through the music industry, Usher is set to deliver a show-stopping performance without receiving a single dime! That's right, folks – the "Yeah!" hitmaker is following in the footsteps of superstar Rihanna and other legendary acts, who've graced the world's most-watched TV stage without a paycheck in hand.
Despite the lack of financial compensation, the NFL isn't exactly pinching pennies. They're shelling out a whopping $13 million to make the halftime magic happen, covering everything from dazzling pyrotechnics to the artist's travel expenses. "We do not pay the artists," an NFL spokesperson boldly stated. "We cover expenses and production costs."
But wait, there's more! The Weeknd's 2021 Halftime Show stirred up controversy when it came to light that half of his backup dancers weren't paid a cent. SAG-AFTRA quickly stepped in, ensuring that professional dancers wouldn't be left out in the cold. "No professional dancers will be asked to work for free as part of the halftime show," the union declared, setting the record straight.
Why Sing for Free? The Super Bowl Exposure Bonanza!
So, why do music's biggest names agree to perform without a paycheck? It's all about the exposure, baby! The Super Bowl Halftime Show is a golden ticket to skyrocketing album and tour sales.
Just ask Shakira and J.Lo, whose streams exploded by 230% and 335%, respectively, after their 2020 performance. And let's not forget The Weeknd, who splurged an extra $7 million of his own cash to perfect his halftime vision. For Usher, the timing couldn't be more perfect.
His new album, "Coming Home," drops just two days before the big game, and he's got a nationwide tour kicking off in August 2024. Talk about strategic planning!
Bruce Springsteen's manager, Jon Landau, reminisced about The Boss's 2009 Halftime Show, saying, "Earnings for the show for Bruce and the band: zero. But it was beautifully produced, Bruce and the band were sensational and we loved it."
Also interesting:
Last year might be something to go by for Usher as well:
According to a story in 'Variety' magazine that ran the day after Super Bowl last year, Rihanna’s Spotify streams went soaring higher than that futuristic floating platform she was riding after her performance. Overall streams were up 640% while "(Expletive) Better Have My Money" — her opening song at an event for which she wasn’t even being paid — saw a spike of 2,600%.
Super Bowl Sunday 2023 was also RiRi’s biggest day in history on Apple Music and Shazam while a story in 'Forbes' said her digital album sales climbed by 301% while her digital song sales saw an uptick of 390%.
So, good for you Usher! It seems that when it comes to the Super Bowl Halftime Show, the experience is truly priceless.
