Piece by: Shakila Mohamed

26 September 2022

. What it takes to perform at super bowl half time show.

. Celebrities who have performed at super bowl half time show.

The Super Bowl is more than just the biggest football game of the year in America that features the AFC and NFC champions going to battle.

While the annually televised event may be the crown jewel in the pantheon of American sports, it’s also a showcase for iconic musical performances.

From the half time show to “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the Super Bowl performances serve as major benchmarks for the artists tapped to perform.

The main focus of the Super Bowl is always the game on the field, but plenty of people tune in just for the halftime show, which features one of the biggest concert performances of the year.

A few facts about the show

What most people might not know is that the performers don't get paid for super Bowl half time show. Then what is the importance of this show to the performing artist?

The show not only helps celebs to popularize themselves but also serves them in a way where they can promote new music.

What the NFL does is that it pays for the costs of the performance.

Although the super bowl halftime show doesn't have a set time since the recommended duration is between 12 and 14 minutes.

How does the NFL chose the performer for the half time show?

The NFL negotiates with certain artists with input of the halftime sponsor of what song package they would perform.

The selection process begins with a panel which includes officials such as the NFL’s director of entertainment, folks from the NFL’s production company, and the halftime show’s director and producer.

After a long and detailed process, the shortlist is handed over to the Super Bowl’s hosting city for a final decision.

When listing down on who to perform, elements like genre relevance and popularity are the most considered.

The Super Bowl halftime show stage has seen some of the most memorable performances in music history.

Some of the best super bowl performers have been; Michael Jackson who performed in 1993, Beyonce who performed in 2013, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira who performed in 2020 and Maroon 5 in 2019.

Rihanna will be performing in the next halftime show in February 2023.