Here's Exactly How Much Usher Earned From His Super Bowl Halftime Performance
Usher reportedly made less than $1,000 for his 2024 Super Bowl halftime performance.
While Super Bowl LVIII drew in an average of 123.4 million viewers Sunday, Usher took home $671 for his incredible, star-studded show, according to American Songwriter.
But just like his predecessors, the Super Bowl halftime show is still expected to be profitable for Usher. The exposure from this high-profile performance is predicted to translate into more than $100 million for the singer through streaming sales, concert tickets, and endorsements.
Usher witnessed a surge in online music streams after taking the stage at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where the Kansas City Chiefs emerged victorious against the San Francisco 49ers.
Usher speaks during a ceremony honoring him at Las Vegas City Hall on October 17, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Spotify reported that four of the songs he performed saw an increase of over 1,000% in streams on the night of the show.
Usher's overall Spotify streams in the United States saw a remarkable 550% increase.
His set opener, the 2005 hit "Caught Up," saw an astonishing 2,000% surge in streams between 6 p.m. and 12 a.m. PT Sunday.
Other hits like "U Don't Have To Call," "Love In This Club" (feat. Young Jeezy), and "Bad Girl" experienced gains of over 1,000% in Spotify streams during the same timeframe.
Even the songs featuring surprise guests, such as "My Boo" with Alicia Keys and "Yeah!" with Lil Jon and Ludacris, saw notable streaming increases of 690% and 520%, respectively.
Like Usher, none of the past Super Bowl halftime show performers, including Beyoncé and Bruno Mars, were paid by the NFL for their participation.
According to Forbes, performers are compensated on a "union scale," which is a minimum wage guaranteed by a union contract.
Usher performs with Alicia Keys (R) during Apple Music halftime show of Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, February 11, 2024.
But the NFL does cover production costs and artists' travel expenses.
Jennifer Lopez and Shakira's 2020 show reportedly cost the NFL $13 million, while Yahoo Finance estimated that Lady Gaga's 2017 set cost over $10 million.
Entertainment attorney Lori Landew told Forbes in 2019 that artists see the Super Bowl halftime show as "an opportunity to entertain an enthusiastic crowd and to share their music and their talent with millions of viewers."
Historically, artists experience a surge in music sales after their Super Bowl performances.
Rihanna, for instance, saw digital album sales climb by 301%, and digital song sales surged by 390% after her iconic performance in 2023, according to Forbes.
Similarly, Snoop Dogg and Mary J. Blige, who performed in 2022, witnessed jumps of 143% and 132%, respectively, in music streams, Billboard reported.
For Usher, the Super Bowl performance came just two days after the release of his new album, "Coming Home." He is also set to go on a tour later this year to support the record.
Usher already has a massive fortune, with Celebrity Net Worth estimating him to be worth $180 million thanks to his record sales, TV and movie projects, business ventures, tours, and Las Vegas residency.
In 2023, Usher reportedly earned $40 million from 34 shows at his residency.
Usher performs onstage during iHeartRadio Channel 95.5's Jingle Ball 2023 at Little Caesars Arena on December 05, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan.
