Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on February 8 in San Francisco, but he will not receive a traditional performance fee. Despite being one of the world’s biggest music stars, the NFL does not pay its halftime headliners.
The rule has been in place for years. Artists perform for free, aside from a small union-mandated payment. In return, they receive massive global exposure during one of the most-watched television events in the world.
This year’s performance follows a major moment in Bad Bunny’s career. His album Debí Tirar Más Fotos recently became the first Spanish-language album to win Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards. During his acceptance speech, he made strong political comments about immigration.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl appearance has already drawn criticism from conservative voices, including President Donald Trump. His expected political tone, combined with heightened security at the event, has added tension around the performance.
The NFL’s decision to stand by Bad Bunny reflects the growing influence of Latin music. Spotify reports that Latin music streams have grown by 2500% over the past decade. Bad Bunny alone reached nearly 20 billion streams in 2025 and was the platform’s most-streamed artist.
While the halftime show does not pay directly, the financial impact can be huge. Last year, Kendrick Lamar saw massive streaming growth after his performance, which helped fuel a stadium tour that earned hundreds of millions of dollars.
Because of this exposure, some artists even spend their own money to enhance the show’s production. The NFL and Apple Music already invest heavily, with halftime budgets often exceeding $10 million.
Bad Bunny earned an estimated $66 million in 2025 from music, touring, and film roles. The Super Bowl will not add to that total directly, but it could push his global profile even higher.
As the first halftime headliner expected to perform mostly in Spanish, Bad Bunny’s appearance marks a historic moment. For many fans, the value of the stage goes far beyond a paycheck.
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