Why Was Rihanna Paid So Little For Her Super Bowl Halftime Performance

Rihanna sang and danced to a number of her hit songs at the State Farm Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Rihanna sang hits including ‘We Found Love,’ ‘Where Have You Been,’ ‘Diamonds,’ and ‘Work,’ and even hinted at her pregnancy during the performance, which was trending on social media on Sunday. However, it has now been reported that Rihanna got paid nearly nothing for her performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

While some reports claim that Rihanna earned no payment for her performance at the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show this is not fully correct. Fans may be startled to learn that the halftime artists at the Super Bowl get paid very little. While some accounts say that the stars receive no payment for their efforts they really receive a small performance fee.

The NFL also covers all of the production costs associated with creating the halftime show including the artists’ travel costs. “The NFL covers all costs associated with the show and does pay the performers’ union scale. There is not an appearance fee, but the artists are indeed paid union scale,” NFL’s vice president of communications told Newsweek.

The union scale is the bare minimum that performers must be paid in accordance with their union contracts. As of June 2021, SAG-AFTRA requires artists to earn a minimum of $1,030 per day. Most individuals would love to make that much money for a day’s work, but it’s a fraction compared to what A-List performers typically earn. “We do not pay the artists,” NFL spokesperson Joanna Hunter told Forbes in 2016. “We cover expenses and production costs.”

Mary J. Blige also addressed why she decided to perform for free at the Super Bowl last year. She described how important it is to perform at the Super Bowl and how musicians may make a living off of it for the rest of their lives. She also stated that people would be knocking on their doors and that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Along with Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Snoop Dogg the Good Morning Gorgeous singer was one of five musicians that took the stage during this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Musicians are typically satisfied with not getting paid for their performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show because being picked to perform is considered an honor, and the show brings enormous exposure. Rihanna’s halftime performance is the second most-watched of all time. Keep an eye on Thirsty for the most recent updates.

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