Why Kendrick Lamar Didn’t Get Paid for His Super Bowl Halftime Show
After joining fellow rappers Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and Eminem for the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show, Kendrick Lamar was tapped to headline Super Bowl LIX.
Lamar took the stage on Feb. 9, 2025, for his performance during halftime of the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, and there was plenty of chatter following his show. Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly on that and why the hip-hop star didn’t get paid for it.
Lamar’s show featured a couple of GOATs but was still called ‘the worst ever’
Lamar was introduced by acting legend Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam before breaking into his song set with dozens of dancers and impeccable choreography. But the film star wasn’t the only GOAT to join the rapper’s show.
Tennis icon Serena Williams surprised fans as she was inserted right in the middle of Lamar’s Drake beef dancing on stage to the diss track “Not Like Us.” Social media went wild after the camera showed Williams but that still wasn’t enough to stop Lamar’s show from being labeled the “worst ever.”
In addition to “Not Like Us,” Lamar’s track list included “Humble,” “DNA.,” and “Euphoria.” There was praise from some fans who called the halftime performance “epic” and were amazed that Lamar wasn’t afraid to go after his rival Drake on the biggest stage with the world watching. But the loudest noise came from those on the other side of the fence who expected more from the hip-hop lyricist.
While X.com lit up with many agreeing that it was a “lackluster” performance compared to other shows we’ve seen in the past, others called it the “worst halftime show ever.“
One user wrote: “I thought The Weeknd was bad but Kendrick Lamar took that spot! Worst halftime show ever!”
“This halftime show at the Super Bowl by Kendrick Lamar is hot garbage … Worst of all time,” another posted.
“The worst Super Bowl halftime show I’ve seen; complete trash,” a third agreed.
And a fourth added, “This halftime show is almost as bad as the game,” referencing the Eagles dominating performance against the Chiefs.
How much did Lamar make for his Super Bowl Halftime Performance?
For those wondering what the payout was for the “Squabble Up” hitmaker to do a show on this scale, Lamar wasn’t paid for his performance beyond a modest “union-mandated fee.”
According to WCNC, “The NFL may cover travel costs for artists but maintains its long-standing tradition of not paying performers for the pregame and halftime shows beyond the minimum union scale requirements. Under union agreements, this typically amounts to around $1,000 per day for rehearsals and the performance itself. That means no splashy appearance fees for these major artists.”
Just like Prince, Beyonce, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and many more Super Bowl halftime performers, none have been directly paid a huge chunk of change. The real payout comes from the exposure the artist gets with their appearance as they enjoy an increase in sales and streaming numbers following the halftime show.
For example, past performers Maroon 5 saw a 434% increase in sales in 2019 and Justin Timberlake saw a 534% sales gain following his 2018 Super Bowl performance, per Billboard.
