The audience a performer receives playing the Super Bowl half time show is astounding and nearly immeasurable; what it could do to one’s career makes the opportunity priceless. Or is it?
Tuesday reports indicate the NFL wants to charge the artist who plays the 2015 Super Bowl half time show. This is not a joke.
While notifying the artists’ camps of their candidacy, league representatives also asked at least some of the acts if they would be willing to contribute a portion of their post-Super Bowl tour income to the league, or if they would make some other type of financial contribution, in exchange for the halftime gig.
The league already refuses to pay artists for the Super Bowl; it’s been understood it’s a ‘pay for exposure’ kind of gig for a long time, and it’s been worth it as the performers have seen a bump in sales. But the NFL asking for a paycheck here may be overstepping their boundaries. It’s not like it’s hard to be a musician in 2014. It’s not like the internet completely killed the industry and the less than 1% of musicians to actually make money aren’t completely screwed over on a daily basis. Not at all.
The NFL made over $6 billion last year.
Coldplay, Katy Perry and Rihanna are the supposed finalists for February’s big game. Yes, they make money, but I hope all of them have great negotiators on their side in this case.
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Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports.
Photo Credit: Getty
