NFL Asks Rihanna, Coldplay and Katy Perry To Shell Out Money To Play at Super Bowl Halftime Show
Remember when mini-concerts at the Super Bowl halftime actually gets more exposure than the actual games? Remember when Justin Timberlake accidentally ripped off Janet Jackson's top for the whole world to see? Remember when Destiny's Child reunited on stage to give props to the diva of soul, Beyonce?
Well, all those are in danger of all going away. The National Football League (NFL) is contemplating requiring performers to shell out money to be given the exposure to perform at halftime. There is some credence to this line of thinking as exposure at the halftime of America's most televised game generates an audience to up to almost a billion. There is an almost automatic assurance that the performer will get an immediate boost in record sales and worldwide tour receipts given the massive coverage.
The Wall Street Journal reports that it has narrowed down its choices to three performers for the 2015 show - Rihanna, Coldplay and Katy Perry. Negotiations with the handlers of the three artists have hit a wall after the league brought up the subject of payments.
"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," according to the same report.
Given that the league is already raking in a lot of revenue from advertisements during the game itself, the proposal is being received chilly by artists. The NFL does not usually pay the performers but covers the travel, accommodation and other expenses which usually run to the millions. The league also released a statement through its spokesperson Johanna Hunter who said that the goal of the league is "to put on the best show possible."
Last year the tandem of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bruno Mars drew an estimated 115 million viewers last February. They used the platform to perform their newest songs and promote their upcoming tours and concerts. There was also a recorded increase in downloads and purchase of songs right after the performance.
This year's Super Bowl will be held on Feb. 1, 2015 at Phoenix.