Usher won't be paid a cent for performing Super Bowl halftime show
Emily Brown
Featured Image Credit: Theo Wargo / Staff/Ethan Miller / Staff
Usher is set to perform one of the biggest gigs of the year at the Super Bowl, but he won't be paid a single dollar for his efforts.
The 45-year-old star is set to entertain the crowd at halftime on Sunday (11 February) while the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers catch their breaths.
The high-profile gig usually only lasts around 13 minutes, but Usher revealed this week that his show will be longer than usual - though not by much.
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Usher told Entertainment Weekly that thanks to 'strategic' work by his team, he will have 15 minutes on stage during which he may or may not invite some special guests up to join him and surprise the audience.
Considering musicians regularly perform for around two hours while on tours, 15 minutes seems like it would be a breeze.
However, it's worth keeping in mind that it won't just be dedicated Usher fans who are watching the gig - it will be millions of people from around the globe, with all eyes on the singer to keep people hooked between plays.
The high quality of performances that have come before only serve to add to the pressure, so you might think Usher would want to make it worth his while with money.
Unfortunately for him, however, the gig won't be paid.
New York resident Joe Pompliano, who authors a newsletter breaking down 'the money and business behind sports', shared a post on LinkedIn explaining how Super Bowl performers are compensated for their time.
According to Pompliano, Apple Music pays the NFL $50 million each year to sponsor the Super Bowl halftime show, and artists involved get approximately $15 million to spend on their production.
This budget covers '2,000 to 3,000 part-time workers, including set design, security, dancers, and marketing', Pompliano explains, but it doesn't cover a wage for the performer.
Instead, the artists are incentivised to perform for exposure.
Usher's performance will be viewed by approximately 115 million people - the same 115 million people that some brands are paying $7 million to influence with a 30-second advert.
Data following previous Super Bowl performances indicates the exposure pays off, with Justin Timberlake having seen a 534 percent increase in music sales after Super Bowl 52, while Rihanna's Spotify streams were up 640 percent.
To help make the most out of his performance, Usher is set to release his new album, Coming Home, just two days before he appears at the Super Bowl.
The gig will offer him the perfect opportunity to promote his new album, potentially sending it rising up the charts and increasing attention around him ahead of his upcoming tour which was announced this week.
Tickets for the 24-city tour go up for sale the day after his halftime performance, just as he's at the forefront of everyone's mind.
So while Usher might not be paid for his 15 minutes on stage on Sunday, the gig will almost certainly pay off in the long run!