Forbes - Grammy Award Winner Kendrick Lamar Is Taking The New Orleans Super Bowl Stage For Free
Kendrick Lamar is set to headline the Super Bowl 59 halftime show, a prestigious opportunity that artists perform for free due to the massive exposure it provides. Despite not receiving payment beyond a minimal union fee, the performance is expected to significantly boost Lamar's career, similar to past artists who have seen substantial increases in streaming numbers and media attention post-performance. The Super Bowl stage is a strategic platform for artists to reach a vast audience, with Lamar's performance anticipated to enhance his visibility and support his upcoming North American tour. Additionally, Lamar's recent album release and Grammy nominations further position him for a successful year.
Key Points:
- Kendrick Lamar will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show without direct payment, only receiving a minimal union fee.
- The Super Bowl halftime show offers unparalleled exposure, with over 100 million viewers, making it a coveted opportunity for artists.
- Past performers have experienced significant boosts in streaming numbers and media attention, enhancing their careers.
- Lamar's performance aligns with his upcoming North American tour, maximizing the promotional impact.
- Lamar's recent album release and multiple Grammy nominations contribute to his heightened visibility and career momentum.
Details:
1. 🎤 Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Performance
- Kendrick Lamar did not receive direct financial compensation for his Super Bowl halftime performance, aligning with the NFL's standard practice for artists participating in the event.
- Despite the lack of direct payment, artists like Lamar benefit significantly from the exposure, often experiencing increased streaming numbers and music sales, as well as elevated profiles in the music industry.
- Performing at the Super Bowl can lead to substantial career opportunities, leveraging the massive viewership to enhance visibility and influence.
- The performance was strategically important for Lamar, showcasing his music to a vast audience, thereby enhancing his brand recognition and marketability.
- Past Super Bowl performers have historically seen a boost in their careers, which Lamar is likely to experience, given the event's high-profile nature and extensive media coverage.
2. 🔥 The Impact of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake Feud
2.1. Streaming and Sales Impact
2.2. Social Media and Public Engagement
3. ⚖️ Legal Battles and Industry Reactions
3.1. Drake's Defamation Lawsuit Against UMG
3.2. Kendrick Lamar's Halftime Show Performance
4. 🌟 The Significance of the Super Bowl Stage
- Lamar, a 37-year-old artist, was chosen for the Super Bowl halftime show by Jay-Z and Rock Nation, highlighting his prominence in the music industry and the importance of this event for artists' careers.
- His track 'Not Like Us' achieved over a billion streams on Spotify in 2024, reflecting major commercial success and broad audience appeal, factors crucial for Super Bowl selection.
- The song 'Not Like Us' set a record by staying 21 consecutive weeks at the top of Billboard's Hot Rap Songs chart, showcasing Lamar's influence and popularity, which are key for making a lasting impact during the Super Bowl performance.
- The Super Bowl halftime show is known for elevating artists' careers, offering exposure to a massive audience, and Lamar's achievements position him as an ideal candidate for this platform.
5. 🚀 Career Boost from the Super Bowl
- Performing at the Super Bowl reaches over 880,000 live fans and more than 100 million TV viewers, making it the most prestigious platform for exposure in the music industry.
- Multiplatinum music producer Antoine Amadeus Thompson emphasizes the transformative career impact that the Super Bowl can have on artists.
- Artists perform for free during the halftime show due to the immense exposure and subsequent career benefits.
- Examples of artists who have experienced career boosts from performing include Beyoncé, whose Super Bowl performance significantly elevated her profile.
6. 💸 Financial Aspects of Performing at the Super Bowl
- Headliners, such as Lamar, are not paid beyond a negligible union-mandated minimum for performing, with past headliners like Usher receiving as little as $671.
- The NFL and Apple Music cover the production costs, which can exceed $10 million for performances lasting only 12 to 14 minutes.
- Some artists choose to invest millions of their own money to enhance their Super Bowl performances.
7. 📈 Post-Super Bowl Career Opportunities
- Usher experienced a 550% increase in overall Spotify streams following his Super Bowl performance, illustrating the immediate boost in music streaming for artists post-performance.
- Rihanna leveraged her 2023 headliner performance to promote her Fenty Beauty brand, which resulted in an estimated $44 million in earned media value, showcasing how artists use the event for brand promotion.
- Kendrick Lamar utilized the 'Super Bowl bump' to launch a 19-stop stadium tour, demonstrating how performers capitalize on increased visibility for touring opportunities.
- Similar trends have been observed with previous performers who have used the platform to revitalize their careers or launch new projects, indicating a strategic use of the Super Bowl stage for career advancement.
8. 🎶 Upcoming Projects and Collaborations
- Kendrick Lamar is touring across North America this summer alongside SZA, leveraging their successful collaboration on the song 'All the Stars' from the Black Panther soundtrack.
- Their new song 'Luther' from Lamar's surprise album GNX is expected to gain attention with a performance at the Super Bowl halftime show, occurring one week after the 2025 Grammy Awards.
- Lamar is nominated for seven Grammy Awards, indicating significant recognition and potential accolades.
- A movie produced by Kendrick Lamar and South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone is set to debut in July, distributed by Paramount, marking a significant expansion into film for Lamar.
- These projects represent a major career advancement for Lamar, who is listed in Forbes 30 under 30, highlighting his influence and success in the industry.
9. 🌍 Kendrick Lamar's Influence and Advocacy
- Kendrick Lamar has won 17 Grammy Awards as of 2014, which indicates his profound influence in the music industry.
- In 2022, Lamar was featured in a 2-minute spot during Super Bowl 56's halftime show, marking his debut at a stadium-sized event and highlighting his mainstream recognition.
- The performance was part of a lineup led by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, symbolizing a generational shift in West Coast rap leadership to Lamar.
- Lamar's selection for the halftime show gained further significance following a major wildfire in Los Angeles, accentuating his role as a community and cultural leader.
- Renowned for addressing substantial societal issues in his music, Lamar provides meaningful content, distinguishing his presence at high-profile events.
10. 📰 Closing Remarks and Further Reading
- The segment directs readers to explore Matt Craigs' detailed piece on forbes.com for comprehensive insights.
- It acts as a conclusion, summarizing that the video covered key aspects of the discussed topic.
- This section emphasizes the importance of seeking additional information for a deeper understanding.