The National Football League (NFL) reportedly asked Rihanna, Katy Perry and Coldplay - the league's top choices to play the 2015 Super Bowl Halftime Show - for money to secure "the biggest gig of all," according to The Wall Street Journal.
When informing the artist's camps that they were shortlisted to headline the most coveted show, league representatives reportedly asked at least some of the acts if they would be willing to contribute a fraction of their post-Super Bowl tour income to the league. If not, they have another option to make some other type of financial contribution, in exchange for the prestigious gig.
Sources told WSJ that the request "got a chilly reception from the candidates' representatives."
This is reportedly the first time the league made any such request, according to TV Guide.
NFL does not usually pay artists who perform during the Super Bowl Halftime Show, but the league typically shoulders travel and production expenses, which can cost more than a million dollars, according to Rolling Stone.
The 12-minute Super Bowl Halftime Show has gotten more popular in the past few years, and performers themselves do capitalize on the exposure that the gig could give them. With an average of 115 million viewers in the US, the Super Bowl Halftime Show is the "biggest concert any musician will perform," according to WSJ.
Artists that landed the spot usually see an increase in music sales a week after their performance. Beyonce and Bruno Mars also used the platform to further promote the ticket sales for their tours "Mrs. Carter Show" and "Moonshine Jungle," respectively.
During this year's Super Bowl last February, advertisers paid about $4 million for a 30-second spot.
NFL spokeswoman Joanna Hunter noted that the league's contracts with artists are confidential.
Super Bowl XLIX will take place outside of Phoenix on Feb. 1 2015.