After watching Rihanna’s superb performance at the Super Bowl LV11 Halftime Show on February 12, 2023, I was somewhat surprised when I learned she did not get paid. But, I would soon learn that it was standard practice for the NFL since 2016.
“We do not pay the artists,” NFL spokesperson Joanna Hunter told Forbes in 2016. “We cover expenses and production costs.”
Joanna Hunter–NFL spokesperson
NFL’s vice president of communications Brian McCarthy clarified to Newsweek last year that headliners get union scale, which is paid to the union and then distributed to artists.
“There is not an appearance fee, but the artists are indeed paid union scale,” he said.
Brian McCarthy–NFL’s vice president of communication.
According to Fox Business, SAG-AFTRA, the union representing most performers, might require a minimum of around $1,000 a day for a high-budget show like the Super Bowl, which would be a pittance to Rihanna, who is worth around $1.4 billion, according to Newsweek.
Still, the show is a win-win for the NFL and the headliner, as record sales tend to skyrocket following such a high-profile performance.
According to Luminate (formerly MRC Data/Nielsen Music), Rihanna’s digital album sales have increased by 301%, while digital song sales have, on February 12, 2023, seen a climb of 390% in the US. On-demand audio streams, however, have increased by 211% between Saturday, February 11, and Monday, February 13.
Luminate also noted on Wednesday some of the songs which made up the nearly 14-minute set also saw an increase in sales and streams. They are as follows:
Umbrella
Digital Song Sales: +499%
On-Demand Audio Streams: +236%
Diamonds
Digital Song Sales: +1,023%
On-Demand Audio Streams: +358%
Pour It Up
Digital Song Sales: +1,387%
On-Demand Audio Streams: +470%
Rude Boy
Digital Song Sales: +748%
On-Demand Audio Streams: +357%
We Found Love
Digital Song Sales: +852%
On-Demand Audio Streams: +297%
Where Have You Been
Digital Song Sales: +1,272%
On-Demand Audio Streams: +459%