Pop superstar officially signs on following months of speculation and news of the league's controversial "pay to play" offer
Cue the "Firework"s: Katy Perry has officially signed on to perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XLIX on February 1st, Billboard reports. The multi-platinum pop star had been in the running alongside Rihanna and Coldplay, according to The Wall Street Journal.
WSJ also reported that some artists were asked if they would agree to a "pay to play" deal by making a financial contribution to the NFL in exchange for the major national exposure granted from such a high-profile gig. But sources indicated that the proposition "got a chilly reception from the candidates' representatives."
Perry joked about the Super Bowl negotiations this past Saturday during a recent appearance on ESPN's College GameDay. "We have had some conversations, and I would be honored, of course," she said. "But I have let them know that I'm not the kind of girl who would pay to play the Super Bowl. The ball is in their field." A representative for Perry was not immediately available for comment.
The NFL's "pay to play" plan hasn't gone over too well with agents, either. "Obviously it is a marketing boon to play halftime for the Super Bowl," David T. Viecelli, agent for Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons and St. Vincent, told Rolling Stone. "But I hope that everybody tells them to go get stuffed."
The league rarely pays artists who perform during the halftime show, though they do typically cover travel and production expenses, which can reach as high as $1 million. In recent years, the halftime show has continued to grow in popularity — this year's performance with Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers brought in a record 115.3 million viewers, while only 112.2 million watched the actual game.
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