The Super Bowl is pro football's biggest stage. It's also the most-viewed annual American sporting event. In recognition of this, the NFL has asked some of the musical acts under consideration to play at next year's big game to pay the league to take the stage, according to a published report.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the league has notified Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Coldplay that they are under consideration to perform at halftime of Super Bowl 49 next February. In the process of notifying them, the paper reports that the league has also asked some of the artists to either give a portion of their post-Super Bowl tour proceeds to the league or make some type of financial contribution in exchange for being offered the show.

People familiar with the matter told The Journal that the league's request received a "chilly" reception from the artists' representatives. The NFL does not pay the halftime acts, though the league typically covers the performers' travel and production expenses.

Spokeswoman Joanna Hunter told the paper that the NFL's contracts with performers were confidential and said the league's only goal was to "put on the best possible show." Hunter also said that the halftime act for next year's game in Glendale, Ariz. had not been decided. The featured performer for the halftime show is typically announced by the league at some point during the regular season.

Last year, an estimated 115 million people watched as Bruno Mars and The Red Hot Chili Peppers performed at halftime of Super Bowl 48 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. According to Nielsen, the entire Fox telecast of the game between the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks drew 112.2 million viewers.

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