Report: NFL wants Super Bowl halftime performer to pay to play

The NFL has asked potential acts to consider paying for the right to perform during the Super Bowl halftime show.

Author:
SI Wire
Publish date:
Aug 19, 2014

The NFL has asked potential acts to consider paying for the right to perform during the Super Bowl halftime show, The Wall Street Journal's Hannah Karp reports.

According to the report, the NFL has focused its attention on Rihanna, Katy Perry and Coldplay as potential performers for the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show in Glendale, Ariz.

More: One oddsmaker is offering a very interesting Super Bowl futures bet

While notifying the artists' camps of their candidacy, league representatives also asked at least some of the acts if they would be willing to contribute a portion of their post-Super Bowl tour income to the league, or if they would make some other type of financial contribution, in exchange for the halftime gig.

Last season, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bruno Mars performed at halftime, drawing 115.3 million viewers.

The NFL declined to discuss contracts with performers and said it would make an announcement once a deal is finalized, according to the Wall Street Journal.

More: Struggles galore for Cleveland QBs

GALLERY: THE 10 BEST SUPER BOWL HALFTIME PERFORMANCES

The 10 Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows

#10: Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004)

2004-Super-Bowl-XXXVIII-Janet-Jackson-Justin-Timberlake.jpg — David Phillip, Elise Amendola/AP

No one seems to recall that Jessica Simpson, Nelly, P. Diddy and Kid Rock also performed at this particular halftime show. That's because Super Bowl XXXVIII will always be remembered for Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction," when Justin Timberlake ripped off part of Jackson's outfit at the very end of "Rock Your Body" to reveal her bare breast. The incident, dubbed "Nipplegate," led to a widespread debate and a major crackdown on indecency in broadcasting. Consequently, MTV was banned from future halftime gigs and CBS absorbed a $550,000 fine.

#9: Super Bowl XXVII (1993)

The then-undisputed King of Pop moonwalked through smoke and blazing pyrotechnics, delivering a medley of hits: "Jam," "Billie Jean" and "Black or White." Surrounded by 3,500 local children (insert your own joke here), Jackson closed the set with "Heal the World." NBC aired the entire performance live, and never again would a network cut away from a halftime show.

#8: Super Bowl XXXIX (2005)

With as many famous songs as Paul McCartney has to choose from, it's pretty hard to see how this act could have gone wrong. McCartney rocked out with "Get Back" and "Live and Let Die" before bringing the entire crowd in on a sing-along for "Hey Jude." He made for a thoroughly uncontroversial and entertaining halftime show, exactly what the Super Bowl wanted after the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction of the year before.

#7: Super Bowl XL (2006)

Strutting across an enormous stage designed as a replica of the Stones' trademark tongue logo, Mick Jagger, at 62, proved that time is indeed on his side. ABC introduced a five-second delay in 2006, and censors cut lines from two of the three songs ("Start Me Up" and "Rough Justice"). "Here's one we could have done at Super Bowl I," Jagger wryly said in introducing "Satisfaction."

#6: Super Bowl XLIII (2009)

2009-Super-Bowl-XLIII-Bruce-Springsteen-E-Street-Band-opis-4478.jpg — Bill Frakes

The Boss brought plenty of energy to the halftime stage and worked seamlessly between older hits like "Born to Run" and "Glory Days" and newer ones like "Working on a Dream." The great showman even gave a powerful knee slide across the stage, crashing into a cameraman. A little too much rock and roll never hurt anyone though.

#5: Super Bowl XXXV (2001)

2001-Super-Bowl-XXXV-Aerosmith-Justin-Timberlake-NSYNC-Britney-Spears.jpg — Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

The worlds of rock, pop and hip-hop collided in an MTV-produced extravaganza. Aerosmith headlined the show, which included Britney Spears, NSYNC, Nelly, Mary J. Blige, spectacular fireworks and constant strobe lights. The collaborative closing number ("Walk This Way") was memorable, as was Britney's silver football pants.

#4: Super Bowl XLVIII (2014)

2014-Super-Bowl-XLVIII-Bruno-Mars-Red-Hot-Chili-Peppers.jpg — Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Despite the Seahawks holding a commanding 22-0 lead at the half, a record 115.3 million viewers tuned in for Bruno Mars' performance. Mars chose three songs for his halftime show, belting out "Treasure," "Locked Out of Heaven" and "Just The Way You Are," with the Red Hot Chili Peppers joining him to perform their 1991 hit "Give It Away."

#3: Super Bowl XLVII (2013)

Christian Petersen/Getty Images; Robert Beck

Mrs. Carter took the stage to perform a medley of current and past hits such as "Love on Top," "Single Ladies," and "Halo." Joining Beyoncé in her more than 12-minute set were former Destiny's Child groupmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. The performance drew more than 110 million viewers, making Beyoncé's extravaganza the second-most watched Super Bowl halftime show in history (at the time).

#2: Super Bowl XLI (2007)

The artist currently known as Prince put on a royal performance. The 1980s icon launched into "Let's Go Crazy" and covered "Along The Watchtower," "Proud Mary" and the Foo Fighters' "Best Of You." Finally, he brought the house down with "Purple Rain" in a coincidental downpour. The phallic imagery caused a minor stir. It's just a guitar, people.

#1: Super Bowl XXXVI (2002)

Months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, U2 delivered a moving tribute to America and the victims of 9/11. The Irish rockers opened with "Beautiful Day," followed by the subdued "MLK" and a powerful rendition of "Where the Streets Have No Name." As the Edge played the hypnotic guitar part, the victims' names scrolled to the heavens on a towering backdrop. At the end, when Bono opened his jacket to reveal a stars-and-stripes lining, the whole stadium erupted.

GALLERY: THE 10 WORST SUPER BOWL HALFTIME PERFORMANCES

The 10 Worst Super Bowl Halftime Shows

Super Bowl XLVI (2012)

No, Madonna doesn't still move like she used to, but that wasn't the major flaw of this performance. While Madonna held her own, it was the accompaniment of LMFAO and M.I.A. that dragged down this halftime show. M.I.A. also stole the post-performance attention for her, uh, forgetfulness that Super Bowl halftime shows are broadcast on television, making middle fingers a bit improper.

Super Bowl XXXI (1997)

Sadly, Jim Belushi is no John Belushi, a point made clear in this halftime show when Jim Belushi performed with Dan Akroyd and John Goodman as part of the new Blues Brothers. For every second that they were on stage, that meant one less for James Brown and ZZ Top.

Super Bowl XXXIV (2000)

Disney aimed big with this one, hoping to hit something along the lines of an Olympics opening ceremony. Instead it got a strange show that required a narrator -- Edward James Olmos in what can only be seen now as an audition for his later role in Battlestar Galactica -- and wasted its star talent by having them sing a song nobody knew.

#7: Super Bowl XVI (1982)

Let's start with who Up With People were: A group originally created in the 1960s to counter the counter-culture movement, Up With People allegedly behaved like a cult, even including practices of arranged marriages. Their 1982 show, one of five appearances the group made in Super Bowl halftime shows, featured the band's super smiley/creepy attitude and a tribute to Motown.

Super Bowl XX (1986)

The only performers to make this list twice, Up With People was at it again with their cheery message in Super Bowl XX, this time in a show titled, "Beat of the Future." Finally after four times headlining and a fifth appearance, Up With People exited the Super Bowl stage for good with their Super Bowl XX performance, and not a moment too soon. Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson and the Rolling Stones haven't headlined a combined four Super Bowl halftime shows, but Up With People has. Something seems off there.

Super Bowl XXV (1991)

ABC chose to air a special ABC News report with Peter Jennings on the Gulf War rather than televise this halftime show live, and with good reason. Another awkward Disney attempt to pitch its products and honor the military, this halftime show combined New Kids on the Block with thousands of kids singing "It's a Small World," complete with loud costumes and foam guitars.

Super Bowl XXVI (1992)

When a halftime show can be best described as an infomercial for Minnesota and all its wintery wonder, that doesn't bode well for the production's reviews. With ridiculous costumes and an ill-advised song choice of "Winter Magic," there's a reason Fox's counterprogramming of a live episode of "In Living Color" was a success.

Super Bowl XXIX (1995)

An example of product placement gone wrong, Disney used this halftime show to build buzz for its Indiana Jones Adventure attraction that was opening later that year at Disneyland. Unable to get Harrison Ford to participate, a different Indiana Jones sought the Vince Lombardi Trophy while the show concluded with another Disney property inclusion, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" from its 1994 film "The Lion King."

Super Bowl XLV (2011)

Big on style but lacking substance, the Black Eyed Peas made a big entrance, descending from the ceiling of Cowboy Stadium with an impressive light, but their performance went downhill from there. Between the almost complete lack of movement from the group and Fergie's off-key singing, the Black Eyed Peas failed to live up to the hype of the first under-50 Super Bowl halftime performers since Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake.

Super Bowl XXIII (1989)

Despite featuring an Elvis impersonator named Elvis Presto, this halftime act utilized zero of the King of Rock and Roll's songs. Presto, in fully sequined glory, did however perform a magic trick, and the show incorporated some earrrrrly 3-D technology.

- Paul Palladino