Real Reason Kendrick Lamar Won’t Be Paid a Single Dollar for His Half-Time Show at Super Bowl 2025- Explained

22-time Grammy Award-winning artist Kendrick Lamar, who is regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop artists of his generation, recently took center stage at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. Lamar is known as the first musician outside of the classical and jazz genres to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018. Lamar mentioned that Tupac Shakur has majorly impacted both his professional and personal lives.

Where publications have regarded Kendrick Lamar as the Shakur of his generation, the musician strives to maintain his individuality. His feud with Drake took center stage in 2024, and he released diss tracks including Not Like Us, Like That, Meet the Grahams, and more. Not only did Not Like Us win Song of the Year at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, but he also performed the diss track at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. Fans are wondering how much Kendrick Lamar is being paid for his performance.

Kendrick Lamar is NOT getting paid for 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show

One of the highly awaited performances by Kendrick Lamar was at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, especially after his diss track Not Like Us won Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.

Surprisingly, musical artists who perform at one of the most-viewed TV broadcasts every year, which is typically 12-15 minutes long, are not paid for it. It’s the exposure that comes with performing on such a big stage that has attracted and convinced artists including Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Rihanna, Usher, and more to perform at the Super Bowl.

A representative of the NFL had shared with Forbes in 2016,

We do not pay the artists. We cover the expenses and production costs.

So, just like his predecessors, Kendrick Lamar, who was joined by his frequent collaborator SZA at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime performance, won’t get paid. Forbes explained that artists are paid on a union scale, which is just a fraction of the six- or seven-figure profit they usually make with a gig.

Last year, Usher was paid $671 for his performance, whereas Rihanna, who performed at the 2023 Super Bowl, used the opportunity to plug in her Fenty Beauty brand during her set. The publication also mentioned that at times the artist spends his or her own money towards the production like The Weeknd spent $7 million of his own money.

Kendrick Lamar performed at the Super Bowl halftime in 2022 as a part of Dr. Dre’s set, which also brought out the likes of Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and 50 Cent. That performance has been considered one of the best halftime shows ever.

Before Kendrick Lamar took the stage, Jon Batiste, Trombone Shorty, Lauren Daigle, and Ledisi performed in the pre-game show. It’s the exposure to the artists’ careers and streams the reason why they agree to perform for free at the Super Bowl Halftime because it’s one of the most watched performances.

Kendrick Lamar performs ‘Not Like Us’ at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show

Fresh off winning five Grammy awards recently, Kendrick Lamar’s performance at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show was probably one of the most highly awaited ones. Fans have been glued to their screens waiting for the artist to perform his famous and very popular diss track Not Like Us.

Ahead of his performance, during a press conference, Kendrick Lamar was asked what people could expect from his performance, to which he replied (via CNN),

Storytelling. I’ve always been very open about storytelling throughout my catalog and music history. And I’ve always had a passion for bringing that on whatever stage I’m on.

And he did not disappoint the audience, as during his performance, actor Samuel L. Jackson opened up the set dressed in an Uncle Sam ensemble before Lamar went in to perform his hits. The artist teased the audience by stating (via CNN),

I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sing.

He then went on to perform All the Stars and Luther, for which he was joined by SZA. But the Grammy Award winner did give the audience what they had come for by performing Not Like Us. However, he omitted the word ‘pedophile’ but did sing ‘A Minor’ line, which has now become utterly famous.

Tennis star Serena Williams also appeared representing Compton, California, and her moves helped Lamar’s performance. Kendrick Lamar closed the performance with TV Off.

The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl 2025.