Two years ago, the Super Bowl halftime show saw the Weeknd ready to risk it all and put up a show at the expense of the Grammys. The recording academy allegedly gave the Canadian superstar an ultimatum to either perform at the Grammys or headline the NFL Super Bowl halftime show; the Canadian superstar chose the latter.
So, why did the pop icon do that? Isn't performing at Grammy Awards bigger than headlining a football game's halftime show? The Super Bowl halftime show isn't just a regular one.
It's a ceremony that can take a recording artist to another stratosphere. So without further ado, here are three ways the Super Bowl Halftime show impacts performing artists.
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How Super Bowl Halftime show impacts performing artists
Here are three ways how it does:
#1 Increases ticket sales for the artists for later shows
The Super Bowl halftime show is a 13-minute showcase of an artist's catalog, and you might think it's a tiny timeframe to showcase your musical output. However, there's a method to the artistry. The timeframe is small, but as long as the artist performs masterfully, such an artist will likely see an increase in ticket sales for upcoming shows and tours.
Just take a look at the facts. The Weeknd sold one million concert tickets a week after Super Bowl 55, making him millions of dollars richer. The Rolling Stones set a record with $558 million in revenue for their tour after their show at Super Bowl 40, and the list goes on.
The figures are telling, and in this social media age, an awesome Super Bowl halftime show performance will likely garner even more ticket sales.
#2 Assures visibility and exposure
The Super Bowl is watched by at least a hundred million people each year. A significant number of these people tune in just for the commercials and halftime show. So imagine how many new fans an artist can garner if an artist plays their cards right.
Exposure is even more important in the social media age, as just about everyone is on several major social media platforms. Even multiplatinum-selling singers are included in the fun.
It was reported that Jennifer Lopez & Shakira gained three million followers apiece after Super Bowl 54. More exposure means more followers, and more followers increase the chances of higher-paying endorsement deals, the difference a 13-minute showcase can make.
#3 Provides Primetime 13-Minute Ad
Super Bowl commercial slots cost a staggering $7 million, and that's for a mere 30-second run-time. Despite the huge fee, dozens of million-dollar companies compete for these select time slots. They do so because of the exposure access to over a hundred million people gives the entity.
Meanwhile, a headlining performing artist gets a 13-minute commercial for free. Moreover, this commercial will let the artist go through their best hits and do so on one of the biggest sporting platforms.
The Super Bowl halftime show is much more than a live performance or side quest. It's a magnificent opportunity for artists to take their career to the next level.
Tonight's performance by Barbadian superstar Rihanna in Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eages is bound to be special. That's because it's the singer's first major performance in years and cannot have come on a bigger stage.
Most Viewed Super Bowl Halftime Shows on NFL’s YouTube Channel
1. Shakira & Jennifer Lopez: 263,000,000 views (LIV, 2020)
2. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar & 50 Cent: 158,000,000 views (LVI, 2022)
3. Coldplay, Beyoncé & Bruno Mars: 114,000,000 views (SB 50, 2016)
4. Lady Gaga: 75,000,000 (LI, 2017)
5. Katy Perry, Missy Elliot & Lenny Kravitz: 75,000,000 views (XLIX, 2015)
6. The Weeknd: 54,000,000 views (LV, 2021)
7. Prince: 49,000,000 (XLI, 2007)
8. Maroon 5, Travis Scott & Big Boi: 20,000,000 (LIII, 2019)
9. Justin Timberlake: 18,000,000 (LII, 2018)
10. Michael Jackson: 11,000,000 (XXVII, 1993)
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