Usher joins previous Super Bowl halftime performers by accepting NO PAY, but he could still make big money from the broadcast
Usher will earn an amount of money that is virtually unheard of for an artist of his popularity and influence if he headlines the Super Bowl: $0 dollars.
Instead of a paid performance, the big telecast will feature a free show from the 45-year-old R&B hitmaker.
And it’s not a departure from the past, as the NFL has long avoided paying the Super Bowl halftime performers and instead traded in publicity.
Shortly after Usher (full name: Usher Raymond IV) was announced as the 2024 halftime show performer, sources exclusively told DailyMail.com that he was “not the first choice” to headline the show, after other stars including Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and Lizzo all turned down the NFL.
Usher may have gotten the best of them, as he was still able to make a significant amount of money from the Super Bowl thanks to his dedicated fan base.
Do them a favor: Usher, 45, won’t be paid by the NFL to headline next year’s Super Bowl halftime show — just like past performers; seen in March in Beverly Hills
Making up for it: Instead, Usher was able to see a significant increase in his streaming, downloads, and physical music sales thanks to the high-profile performance; seen on September 25 in Paris
That’s because his older fans — as well as the new ones he converts during the halftime show — will likely stream and download his music in huge numbers, while others will buy physical CDs and vinyl LPs of his albums in the days leading up to and following the Super Dish.
Other artists have gotten that bump in post-Super Bowl streaming, including 2020 headliners Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.
According to the streaming service Spotify, streams of Jennifer’s music increased by a whopping 335 percent after the show, while Shakira’s music was streamed another 230 percent.
The two also did well when it came to downloads, which are more lucrative per song. The songs they played during the halftime show were downloaded 16,000 times on Super Bowl Sunday, compared to just over 1,000 downloads the day before, according to Billboard.
That streaming bump was felt even to a lesser extent by Bad Bunny and J Balvin, who were special guests during the halftime show, and by Demi Lovato, who sang the Star-Spangled Banner before the game.
According to Spotify, all three artists are experiencing double-digit increases in their streaming numbers.
Other former Super Bowl performers, including Rihanna and Lady Gaga, have even bigger streaming bumps than Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.
So even if Usher doesn’t make a dime from the NFL, he could still come out of the night with a significant cash infusion.
Huge increase: Past artists including Jennifer Lopez, Sharkira, Lady Gaga and Rihanna have seen three-fold and even four-fold increases in their streaming numbers; seen in 2016 in NYC
Prove them wrong: DailyMail.com previously reported that Usher wasn’t the NFL’s first pick, but he’s determined to make everyone forget that with an incredible showing; seen in June in LA
No thanks! Taylor Swift has been approached by the NFL several times, but turned down the Super Bowl because she was too ‘busy’; seen on October 11 in LA
The NFL hasn’t been shy about sharing its policy of not paying performers in the past.
In 2016, a spokesperson for the football organization said Forbes: ‘We don’t pay the artists.’
However, they did add that the NFL will cover the artists’ “expenses and production costs,” so Usher likely won’t have to use any of his own money to put on the show.
Usher will take the stage after the NFL’s failure to attract more popular performers.
In late September, an NFL source revealed to DailyMail.com that Taylor Swift had been approached “a handful of times” to headline the halftime show, but turned it down because she was “too busy.”
But Taylor, who just scored the biggest debut of her career despite releasing a re-recorded version of an older album, doesn’t necessarily need an influx of new listeners or publicity.
Another NFL source said Harry Style was being considered as a possible headliner for a show that could include a highly anticipated One Direction reunion.
However, it is unclear whether these considerations went far enough to approach Styles about the possibility.
Despite not being the NFL’s first draft pick, a source close to Usher told DailyMail.com that he planned to “prove all the haters wrong” by putting in the “best performance ever.”
“Usher knows he wasn’t the first choice, but he’s here to prove he’s the right choice,” they said.
“He was able to reinvent himself and prove to people that he is a great artist with his recent Vegas residency. He knows he has a great catalog, and his halftime show will be one of the best.
“He has no problem proving himself and when people think he’s going to be bad, he looks forward to proving all the haters wrong,” they continued.
Options: An NFL source said Harry Styles was also being considered, and Lizzo reportedly turned down the show amid the controversy over a sexual harassment suit filed against her’; seen on September 25 in Paris
Extra bang for your buck: Usher, who was disappointed that news of Taylor dating Travis Kelce overshadowed his announcement, will likely bring out some guests, a source said; seen in June 2022 in NYC
“This opportunity is incredible, and Usher is looking forward to making it an unforgettable experience,” the source added. “It may seem like his back is against the wall and people aren’t that excited, but he wants to prove everyone wrong.”
The insider also noted that Usher was “a little disappointed” that the announcement of his appearance was “overshadowed” by the then-recent news that Taylor Swift was dating football star Travis Kelce.
The source noted that Usher would likely get some support during the Super Bowl halftime show with guests, though they didn’t say who would join him on stage.
The Super Bowl – and Usher’s halftime show – will air on Sunday, February 11, 2024.