Did you guys know that the NFL is a tax-exempt non-profit? I’m sure some of you knew that, although in polls conducted earlier this year, most Americans do not realize that the NFL is tax-exempt, and that more often than not, individual teams and stadiums are the recipients of huge taxpayer-funded subsidies. NFL commissioners can rake in $30 million-plus compensations and the entire NFL is worth something like $9 billion or more – it’s growing so rapidly that many say it will be worth $27 billion in the next twelve years. All of it tax-exempt. You can read more about it here.
I bring up that issue because the NFL’s non-profit status means that they don’t come out and pay their Super Bowl Half-time acts directly. Instead, the sponsors pay the Halftime acts for the most part. When Beyonce did the Half-time show, I believe Pepsi paid her. So, the 2015 Halftime show is being organized now, which is around the time it usually happens. The NFL has allegedly approached Rihanna, Katy Perry and Coldplay about maybe doing it, according to the Wall Street Journal. Out of that group… Coldplay would be the least controversial and Rihanna would be the one most likely to flash her boobs, but I bet Katy would be the most offensive. Anyway, there’s an interesting wrinkle – this year, the NFL wants their musical act to PAY THE NFL for the honor of playing the Halftime show.
The NFL reportedly asked Katy Perry, Rihanna and Coldplay, their top choices to play the 2015 Super Bowl Halftime Show, if they would be willing to pay the league in order to secure one of the biggest gigs in the world, according to The Wall Street Journal.
When reaching out to artists, league representatives asked some acts if they would exchange a headlining slot for a portion of their post-Super Bowl tour earnings, or make another type of financial contribution to the NFL. Sources told the Journal that the suggestion, perhaps unsurprisingly, “got a chilly reception from the candidates’ representatives.”
While the NFL doesn’t typically pay artists who perform during the Super Bowl Halftime Show, they do tend to cover travel and production expenses, which can be upwards of a million dollars. Considering the Halftime Show has only grown more popular in recent years — this year’s performance with Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers drew 115.3 million viewers, compared to the 112.2 million who watched the game — it makes sense they’d want a piece of the pie.
The artists themselves do tend to capitalize on the exposure of such a performance as well: Beyoncé announced her “Mrs. Carter Show” world tour right after her performance in 2013, while tickets to Mars’ “Moonshine Jungle” tour went on sale the Monday after his Super Bowl set. But quantifying Super Bowl exposure, specifically in the form of ticket sales, is tricky, especially for established artists like Rihanna, Perry and Coldplay who have been grossing millions on the road for years.
No decisions have been made about this year’s Super Bowl Halftime performer, and as NFL spokeswoman Joanna Hunter noted, the league’s contracts with artists are confidential. Super Bowl XLIX will take place outside of Phoenix on February 1st, 2015.
How g—damn greedy of the NFL. It’s not enough that they make billions of tax-free income, enough to line their commissioners’ offices with $100 bills, but now they’re trying to force musical acts to pay them for the privilege? What a scam. If the NFL keeps insisting, I hope Coldplay, Rihanna and Katy Perry all shut them down.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
It’s all greed, isn’t it?
It’s out of control.
These acts SHOULD have to pay to play. Ugh.
Here’s a refresher on the NFL being a nonprofit:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-frederick/nfl-tax-exempt_b_1321635.html
Wow, that’s ridiculous.
I would love if this issue stirred up enough anger to lose their tax-exempt status.
Thanks for the link. That exemption is total bull-puckey, clearly the result of heinous lobbying, and should be revoked. I don’t see who would object besides the “eight individuals … paid $53.6 million.” They seem to be profiting quite nicely.
I heard about this and was just stunned. I did know about the NFL being a non-profit… again, stunning. But to have artists pay to play? I cannot even.
Do I think athletes and performers alike are generally overpaid and overhyped? Absolutely. Not everyone, obviously, but when we’re talking about an event like the Super Bowl – everyone there is making money. Why should the performers have to pay? So dumb.
Plus, now that word is out, how embarrassing would it be to be the act who signs on? Is Pia Zadora still around?
Anyone want to pitch in and buy our own Super Bowl Halftime Show? I have some spoken word poetry about Katy Cambridge’s eye liner that’s sure to be a hit.
Lol Abbot I want a preview right now.
I’d be willing to clatter bivalves in a musical fashion. Count me in.
I was thinking, how ’bout Christopher Walken reading the medical records aloud, of past players’ head and brain injuries, to the beat of a cowbell?
I’d watch that, but I want to see a nip slip too.
Actually no, I totally don’t.
Ding ding ding we have a winner! Just spit my tea all over my keyboard.
Omg Kiddo!!! That is good stuff!
Sure! I could dress up as Madonna at the beach and do my rendition of Like A Virgin. That would empty the stands and then we could have really good seats for the second half.
Two things: F the NFL and secondly, I will gladly pay to not have Coldplay do the halftime show.
Compared to Rihanna and Katy Perry, Chris Martin is Mozart.
I will pay double to not listen to Chris Mozart then. 😉
Even if a certain “fun” special guest takes the stage, making wacky faces, while farting?
Jessica Simpson? Oh you mean Dorito Dust! 😀
You’re so smart, you even conceived an advert tie-in, well done! And yes, you are correct. JLaw.
OMG took the words right out of my mouth.
There shouldn’t even be a halftime show. Make it about sports entirely and be done with it.
There is no halftime show in the Championship League Finals and millions of people still watch.
I have an idea: They could have the Puppy Bowl and the Kitty Halftime show at the stadium this year. The puppies will work for free, and hair and makeup for the kitties will cost a fraction of what it would for Katy Perry, so it’s a PR/financial win-win for all involved!
Yes, I’ve been saying that for years – or, here’s a radical thought, use college marching bands, one from Div 1, one band from Division 2 or 3 and one from an historically black college. They could do a far better job than lip synching Rihanna, kidz bopp muzak Katy Perry and put you to sleep coldplay.
This is why world cup soccer is so much better than American corporate sports – it’s about the game, American sports have become, like everything else, too corporate and commercialized.
I don’t watch the “super’ bowl anymore.
You know @TheOne-that would kick ass-college marching bands are the best. fab idea.
I am glad they got a chilly response. That is absolutely greedy considering they are not even paying the acts directly.
Me too. And this comes on top of story I read about how some NFL cheerleaders are trying to sue the league because they get paid LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE. The league is basically telling them to eff off.
I didn’t know they got paid at all. Interesting.
I remember there being a story about the cheerleaders earlier this year. They also have to maintain a certain weight at all times and they can get fined for grooming, being late, etc. I can’t remember most of it but it was pretty bs on how they are treated. But not surprising considering how the NFL doesn’t want to help the players w/brain injuries.
A zillion years ago when I lived in Miami, I knew some Dolphins cheerleaders. They made $25/game. It was viewed as a volunteer position, basically, event though they had to be at the beck and call of the organization. The worst part? They can’t date the players. For me, if I’m all hooched up and not making any money AND I can’t find a date? Just no. What’s the point?
I’d vaguely thought it was a volunteer gig, too, but then when I heard they get paid so little plus have so many restrictions it kinda made my blood boil considering how much money the league pulls in. I’d love it if they all just walked off for good. Not that the NFL would care, I’d guess.
Some billionaire is going to buy a spot for his talentless daughter.
Sure, make the musicians pay because then we won’t have anyone wanting to be in the half time show and they can eliminate that portion of the telecast altogether.
I hate the Superbowl,, so either way I don’t care what they do or don’t do. I won’t be watching.
That’s ridiculous- they’re performing, which is their JOB, and they should be paid accordingly.
How on earth is the NFL a nonprofit??? If that’s the case, shouldn’t every penny left over after paying everything go to a charity?
They had Meatloaf perform at the AFL Grand Final in 2011. The audience should’ve been paid for getting exposed to that. I always thought The Foo Fighters would be good halftime entertainment.
This is news to me! I had no clue the NFL is a non profit organization, that could be why they’re lousy with the older players. I love football and unfortunately am a jets fan, shhh I suffer enough. Listen, Bruno Mars was the best halftime show in years!!! And I could care less who gets paid to perform during halftime . Just As long as it’s not Katy Perry or some other talentless tartlet.
Bruno Mars was rad, so was Prince. Who else am I missing?
I really enjoyed NSync and AeroSmith, Michael Jackson, and U2. I think The Black Eyed Peas were one of the worst in recent memory. They slept through the whole thing. It’s the effing Super Bowl, look happy to be there!!!
I liked Tom Petty too
Springsteen. That is all.
Yaaassss! How could I have forgot Le Bruce??
Pssst: I am too.
Don’t feel bad, guys… I’m a Lions fan…
Two of us exist?
I used to be a Lions fan when I first got into pro football (for my first season)! Because I’m a Husker and I loved me some Suh. Then Suh turned out to be a nozzle and we didn’t win any games, and I realized I’ve always liked tigers better anyway, so now…WHO DEY!!
Dolphins fan, still love you, totally agree.
I didn’t know it either. I’m shocked and disgusted by it tho.
THe atlantic monthly’s Gregg Easterbrook has written about this farce. It’s on the internet.
You’d think that after everything that went down with Ray Rice (which is only the most recent event in a long history of misogyny in the NFL), more musicians would boycott the NFL. Coldplay (or at least, Chris Martin) claims to be socially conscious, and Katy Perry and Rihanna are both women. Rihanna has personal history with domestic violence. I get that it would be a business decision, but the NFL is awful.
Rihanna and particularly Katie Perry aren’t known for making ethically-based business decisions, and I’d be surprised if Chris Martin was paying a whole lot of attention to the NFL. I can’t imagine Goopy would have gotten him interested in football.
The IRS needs to carefully revisit this exemption decision. And while we’re putting things under review, baseball’s antitrust law exemption by Congress.
Dang it, and I JUST signed the petition to the NFL to have Weird Al Yankovic for the halftime show!
I don’t think any business should be exempt. And I just don’t get how, if the NFL is worth BILLIONS it can be considered a non-profit in any way, shape or form. I always thought that non-profit meant you don’t make a profit after all expenses are paid. Somehow, having billions of dollars left over, seems a pretty nice profit to me!!!
Um…no. I was under the impression that the musicians play for free. I mean, I’m sure Pepsi paid for the costumes, lighting, back-up dancers, etc. for Beyonce, and obviously they pay her for her endorsement, but she didn’t actually pocket a fee for doing the Super Bowl. I think that’s fine. But, I don’t think musicians should have to pay for the privilege. The NFL already doesn’t have to pay for the entertainment and it draws viewers to the Super Bowl. They’re already winning.
In fact, with the current set-up, everybody is winning. The NFL gets viewers and prestige, without having to pay to produce the show. The company (Pepsi, etc.) that does pay to produce the show gets a 12 minute long commercial, and the talent gets international exposure in lieu of their fee. The NFL needs to have a seat.
I believe it’s the TV network that pockets that money, not the NFL. Though the networks do pay the NFL for the rights to air it…
EDIT: Oops. This was was intended for the comment below.
Doesn’t the NFL make millions off the commercials shown during the broadcast? The money companies pay to have a commercial on during the Super Bowl is just insane
Theoretically, I think this is one of the dumbest things the NFL has ever thought of. But at the same time, if it keeps people like Katy Perry, Rihanna, and Coldplay (seriously, are they still a thing? It’s not 2005 anymore) from performing, I’m all for it.
American-style capitalism is eating its own tail at this point,. Even though this is basically about billionaires trying to exploit other billionaires, still I think the entertainment should be paid. The NFL is just another corporate vampire, there’s no reason whatsoever for it to continue sucking the taxpayer’s blood.
So true…but as long as there are networks dedicated to convincing us that the Honduran children entering our country are ruining our economy, people won’t pay attention to this kind of flagrant behavior!
Bullseye!
SPOT ON. THANK YOU.
American capitalism is crony capitalism and the politicians use our tax system to pay off corporate cronies. It is all about pay to play. Small businesses do not have a chance. Free market capitalism no longer exists. Too often large corporations pay off politicians to knock out their competitors…..this is one major reason,middle income wages haven’t bounced back!
ITA. Sure there’s a lot of sentimental jawboning about small business in the media but the current system is designed either to absorb smaller businesses into a larger entity a la the Borg or kill them off because they can’t compete against the Amazonian (winky winky) scale of the big boys.
I hate football. Just thought I’d throw that in.
I enjoy the sport but hate how crazy people get over it and the acceptance of bad behavior in the NFL by the fans, as no big deal because, hey ” He’s an awesome player. Who cares if he beat his wife, raped some girl or killed a person?!”.
Oh, so with you there. That goes for most sports. Remember when Coby (not sure of spelling) Bryant allegedly raped a hotel maid? The women who supported him just blew my mind – calling her a liar and a slut – it was horrible. Before any facts were known, they just practically tore her to shreds, because he was a “hero.”
I tried to watch American football a couple of times but it was painfully boring. 15 minutes of actual action spread trough a 3 hour period.
Out of the sports that are big in America, I love basketball and quite enjoy hockey. It’s good to see proper football getting more and more attention in the US.
Has anyone seen Dempsey’s interview with Letterman after the World Cup? I usually like Letterman’s interviewing style, but he was a dick in that interview.
ME, TOO! I cannot with it. It’s slow and boring, and it probably doesn’t help that I keep thinking “Wait, what happened? Why is everyone cheering?” because I don’t know the game.
No, they should not have to pay, IMO. These people are top-tier acts and don’t need to pay for exposure.
The NFL is a disgusting organization. They refuse to punish players who have committed acts of violence towards women. And they get rewarded with a ton of money for it.
ITA. totally disgusting
Coldpay should pay everyone who has to listen to them. No matter where, no matter when…
….and this is why I say the US tax code needs to be reformed. This is criminal. The NFL should be taxed and I hope musical acts ban the NFL. What a bunch of greedy pigs!
I actually knew this as they’ve been trying to get a stadium and a team in LA for years now. Total Scam!
And no paying to play is BS!
LOVE IT!! I just think it is wonderful when individuals with bloated ideas of how wonderful and important they are go head to head. And by the way Chris Martin is just so homely!! It is really is a shame.
The halftime shows always suck. Let em pay big bucks!
Did not read the article at all … just the headline. What if, the performer pays for like a section of fans to go to the Super Bowl, those tickets can get really expensive!!
CLASSIC Goodell.
Here’s how the NFL can cover their losses
http://snarkatthemoon.blogspot.com/2014/08/it-might-be-time-to-bailout-nfl.html?m=1
Roger Goodell for President!
If one artist doesn’t want to pay, there will be more lined up around the block. It’s great exposure to be at the halftime show.
I LIVE FOR FOOTBALL SEASON
Let’s go Niners!!
The NFL PAYS NO TAXES. They earn several BILLIONS dollars a year.
They need their tax-exempt status rescinded yesterday.
I bet people in Hollywood will extend this to movies soon. Pay for a lead role and you’ll get a cut of the profit if the movie breaks even. Except our accounting shenanigans will screw you ut of your share even then.
Btw, ew with Chris Martin’s O-face up top. Run, JLaw, run!
If money needs to change hands, the performers can donate a large sum to an AMERICAN children’s charity of the NFL’s choice.