The National Football League might be asking artists to pay to perform during their Super Bowl halftime show, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Coldplay, Rihanna and Katy Perry are reportedly in the running to snag the coveted show. However, the big musical acts are being asked to dish out their profits back to the NFL.
“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 WSJ reports.
Inside sources told the WSJ the potential acts weren’t keen to the idea of paying for their spotlight. According to Rolling Stone, the NFL doesn’t pay their artists to perform during the halftime show, but the event draws in more than 100 million viewers.
The 2014 halftime show featuring Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers brought in 115.3 million viewers, while the game itself brought in 112.2 million viewers.
However, no one has capitalized on their halftime show spotlight like Beyonce. The singer picked up endorsements from Pepsi and H&M, went on the Mrs. Carter World Tour and dropped a surprise album in 2013.
“When artists play the Super Bowl, their music sales often get a short-lived pop,” Slate reports. “Some, like Beyoncé, have used the appearance to promote a new concert tour. Since the NFL already doesn't pay halftime acts, there's already a tradition of playing for exposure.
“Now, the league is simply saying that exposure is worth paying for, which - considering we're talking about fabulously successful and wealthy pop stars - isn't exactly a crime.”
Do you think artists should pay for to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show? Let us know in the comments below.
