The Super Bow l is one of the biggest sporting events of the year - if not the biggest - but you might be surprised by some interesting facts about this highly anticipated game, which once brought Rihanna back to the stage. This year’s game took place on 9 February at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, where the Philadelphia Eagles secured a 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
While many people don’t actually tune in for the game itself, the halftime show has evolved into a spectacle, often compared to a mini-concert. Each halftime performance reportedly costs millions of dollars, aiming to create a strong connection with pop culture, generate global interest, and expand the television audience. Ticket prices cost thousands of dollars, and the Super Bowl is estimated to generate between $300 million and $1.3 billion annually from sales and exposure.
The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) in the United States, held each year in January or February. The winner is crowned that season’s champion and awarded the prestigious title of “World Champions.”. During halftime, a performance is held featuring a global artist. This year, rapper Kendrick Lamar headlined the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, with a special guest appearance from SZA.
Over the years, the show has featured some of the most iconic performances in music history, with artists such as Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Usher, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, and many more taking the big stage. The Super Bowl is also known for attracting A-list celebrities each year. Famous attendees included Taylor Swift (who is dating NFL player Travis Kelce), Blake Lively, Donald Trump, Anne Hathaway, Ice Spice, Lana Del Rey, Samuel L. Jackson, Adam Sandler, Pete Davidson, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber, among others.
Halftime performers are not paid to perform at the Super Bowl. In a 2016 interview with Forbes, NFL spokesperson Joanna Hunter stated: “We do not pay the artists. We cover expenses and production costs.”. While artists don't get paid, the exposure from performing at one of the world ’s biggest events is far more valuable and where they earn the big coins. With millions of people watching live or streaming from home, the Super Bowl offers musicians an opportunity to promote their music, upcoming albums, tours, or other projects - no matter how known they already are.
For example, after Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s 2020 halftime performance, their Spotify streams surged by 230% and 335%, respectively. Similarly, Justin Timberlake saw a 534% increase in sales following his 2018 performance. The Super Bowl halftime show is known for its extravagant staging, featuring fireworks, LED displays, set designs, and large dance crews with amazing choreographies. Despite not receiving a pay cheque at the end of their performances, expenses and production fees are covered by the NFL - and it can get quite expensive. These are the most expensive halftime shows to date:.
Other expenses the NFL covers are accommodation, transport, food, and any other needs that the artists might need during the preparation process and during the show. However, this level of investment wasn’t always the case. In 2021, the NFL faced backlash after it was revealed that halftime show dancers had performed voluntarily without pay. Following this controversy, the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) negotiated fair compensation for all performers involved, ensuring that everyone is now properly paid for their time and effort.
