LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Mary J. Blige speaks during the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Press Conference at Los Angeles Convention Center on February 10, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Mary J. Blige knows her music earns coins, even if they aren’t coming from the National Football League! As you may already know, Mary is just one artist in a stacked list of Super Bowl LVI performers coming to our screens later this week. She is the only female artist performing in the halftime show featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar. She recently joined hosts of ‘The Cruz Show’ and labeled the upcoming performance an “opportunity of a lifetime” while discussing not being paid for the gig.
Per a recent report by ‘Esquire’, the NFL only funds the production of the halftime show, including the staff involved in making it happen! But the price tag of doing so isn’t cheap. The NFL reportedly spent $13 million in production costs for the 2020 performance by Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. So, the league saves coins on the 12 to 15-minute performances by not paying the big-name talents they book.
“You don’t have to pay me, but if it was paying it would be a lot of money, but I’m good,” Mary told the off-camera show hosts. “This is major, this is [an] opportunity of a lifetime.”
Artists benefit from the exposure prior, during, and following the halftime performance, which is one of the most-anticipated, annual performances. CNBC reports that back in 2018, Justin Timberlake saw a 534% increase in his music sales during his performance.
So, while online audiences debate the annual topic, Mary is seemingly driven by the opportunity (and possible future checks). One of the hosts, who isn’t visible in the clip, responds to Mary’s comment by saying, “it pays itself.”
“This is [an] opportunity of a lifetime. Eminem says that and Lucious says…this is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Mary responds with a chuckle. “You better lose yourself,” she repeats after the same host.’
Roommates, will you be tuning in to see Mary’s performance?
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