Super Bowl 2026: Why Bad Bunny Was NOT Paid For Halftime Performance? NFL's Salary Model, Perks For Artists EXPLAINED

Bad Bunny gave a memorable performance during the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, performing hits including his Grammy-winning DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. He made history as the first solo Latino artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show and the first to perform mostly in Spanish. His set ran for about 13 minutes and blended high-energy reggaeton with cultural storytelling. And with Lady Gaga giving a surprise of joining the 16-time Grammy-nominated artist, it became a one-of-a-kind show. But what if we tell you that in all probability, Bad Bunny was not paid a substantial paycheck, or paid very little for his Super Bowl 2026 act?Bad Bunny's show was packed with his biggest hits and nods

to Latin culture. He opened his performance with Tití Me Preguntó, and included tracks Yo Perreo Sola, Safaera, Party, Voy a Llevarte Pa’ PR, Eoo, Mónaco, El Apagón and Café con Ron. He closed the show with DTMF. The way he used visual and thematic elements to celebrate Puerto Rican life and music heritage became a highlight too. But despite all this, reports claim his remuneration wouldn't have been enough.

Why was Bad Bunny not paid for Super Bowl performance?

A major reason here could be NFL's long-standing tradition and payment model for the halftime show. So, in all possibilities, he didn't receive a traditional salary or large appearance fee from the NFL.As per the union rules (SAG-AFTRA), halftime performers receive only a minimum "union scale" payment. And that's very low. One can assume it's roughly in the low thousands total for rehearsals and the show itself.

Salary of previous artists

Sports Illustrated reported that during his 2024 act, Usher received $671 for his performance and about $1,800 for the show's rehearsals. Infact most of the past performers including Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Kendrick Lamar got only a few hundred to low-thousand-dollar amounts under this system. This estimates around $1,000 per day of work under union minimums, but that's nothing comparable to a typical concert fee, until the performers wish to invest their own money. In 2021, it was reported that The Weeknd put $7 million from his own pocket into his show.

What does NFL cover instead of the payment?

Even though NFL doesn't pay large appearance fees, the league and its sponsor Apple Music instead cover the lavish production costs. And these costs often stand in tens of millions of dollars because of the extravagent stage design, lighting, dancers, fireworks, and travel.

What do performers gain from a free show?

Even for Bad Bunny, fresh from his Grammy win, won't get a big direct paycheck from NFL. But like other artists, even he'll see major boosts in streaming, sales, and visibility after his halftime show. These perks can be worth millions in increased royalties, music sales, merch, and future touring interest.

NFL explains the rules

NFL's senior vice president and global head of major events Jon Barker told The New York Times, "When you have an opportunity as an artist to stand on a stage and reach 250 million people at one time…and that’s not counting the addition of social and streaming and the ability for people to go back and re-watch, I think that it is one of the most important stages in live entertainment. When they join us and become part of the halftime show, I think [artists] recognise what the halftime show is and being a part of it. And I think that resonates very strongly with the artists. That’s certainly the feedback we’ve heard year after year after years with artists."Super Bowl halftime show is not just restricted to being a concert, it has translated to becoming one of the biggest marketing opportunities for the music industry, and artists who receive huge real time exposure.