The National Football League has reportedly asked potential 2015 Super Bowl halftime performers to pay to play the gig, but representatives the artists being considered
aren't so keen on the pay-to-play idea, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Although the NFL traditionally doesn’t pay the acts, which get a lot of marketing exposure for their performances, this would be the first time the organization has considered charging the performers.
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The NFL does typically pay for travel and production expenses, which can cost millions.
The WSJ did not have information on how much the NFL was considering asking as a fee, but said it could include a portion of revenue generated by touring after the show.
An NFL representative did not comment to the WSJ on the idea, citing confidentiality issues around performers’ contracts.
Super Bowl XLIX will be played in Phoenix on Feb. 1.
The WSJ said acts under consideration for the Super Bowl halftime show for the upcoming season are Coldplay, Rihanna, and Katy Perry.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bruno Mars were the featured acts in the Super Bowl earlier this year in a show that drew 115.3 million viewers, which the WSJ said was double the audience that tuned in for the Academy Awards and triple the Grammy audience.
Several people
in comments on a Rolling Stone article pointed out that the NFL benefits from the halftime performances by drawing in viewers who aren’t interested in football, and maybe something is off.
“This should be the other way around. The NFL should beg big artists to perform so they can attempt to maximize viewership and possibly convert more people into their world,” one person wrote. “Asking for performers to pay is an insult to artists, but also turns off the public to know that whoever is performing that night just has the deepest pockets. Wasn't this done away with in the 50s? Payola anyone?”
Many were shocked at the idea of performers paying to be there.
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