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For years, Jay-Z has chosen who performs at the Super Bowl halftime show. For February 2027, he himself was selected. This means the man whose company produces the show will headline the stage for the first time, and on Valentine's Day in Inglewood, no less.
Overnight, the NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation announced the headliner of the next Halftime Show. According to the NFL's announcement, Jay-Z will perform at Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The announcement was made during the Monday Night Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles on ESPN – the network that will also broadcast the Super Bowl in the US in February. A year earlier, Bad Bunny was presented as the headliner of the Apple Music Halftime Show at the same point. Apple Music itself announces the performance in a short video, styling the name there as "JAŸ-Z."
Key Facts at a Glance
- Jay-Z performs the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show on February 14, 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
- His company, Roc Nation, has been producing the Halftime Show in partnership with the NFL since 2019 and selects the headliners.
- According to reports at the time regarding the sponsorship agreement, this is the fifth and, for now, last show under Apple's five-year contract.
- In Germany, the Super Bowl will be broadcast on the night of Monday, February 15th. Kick-off is around 12:30 a.m., and it will be shown on free-to-air TV and on RTL+.
Valentine's Day at SoFi Stadium
SoFi Stadium is hosting a Super Bowl for the second time. Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg performed at halftime during Super Bowl LVI in February 2022. Both also joined Jay-Z when he performed two concerts of his JAY-Z30 series at the same stadium on October 23 and 24.
With this concert series, Jay-Z celebrates the 30th anniversary of his debut album "Reasonable Doubt" and the 25th anniversary of "The Blueprint." Blue Ivy Carter, John Legend, DJ Khaled, and Too Short also performed at the concerts. The NFL lists Jay-Z with 25 Grammy Awards.
The man who chooses the headliners
Roc Nation has been the NFL's halftime show partner since 2019. Since then, performers have included Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, The Weeknd, Rihanna, Usher, Kendrick Lamar, and Bad Bunny. The selection is made by Jay-Z and his company. This time, it was Jay-Z himself.
This was expected. On October 20, Puck reported, citing multiple sources, that Jay-Z had secured himself as the headliner. The report was based on unnamed individuals and provided no supporting documentation. With the NFL and Apple Music announcements, it's now confirmed.
Fifth show under Apple's sponsorship agreement
Apple Music took over the sponsorship from Pepsi in September 2022. At the time, the NFL only referred to it as a multi-year contract. However, Sportico and the Sports Business Journal both reported a five-year deal worth approximately $50 million per year. Fast Company also described the contract as a five-year agreement from September 2022 in early 2026.
Counting from Super Bowl LVII in February 2023, Jay-Z's performance is the fifth show of this run:
| Super Bowl | Date | Stadium | Headliner |
|---|---|---|---|
| LVII | February 12, 2023 | State Farm Stadium, Glendale | Rihanna |
| LVIII | February 11, 2024 | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas | Usher |
| LIX | February 9, 2025 | Caesar's Superdome, New Orleans | Kendrick Lamar |
| LX | February 8, 2026 | Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara | Bad Bunny |
| LXI | February 14, 2027 | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood | Jay-Z |
The contract duration is based on reports from individuals familiar with the terms. While no written contract exists, the information from both trade publications agrees regarding the duration and amount.
This is how Super Bowl LXI will be shown in Germany
Super Bowl LXI begins on Sunday, February 14, 2027, US time. In Germany, this falls in the early hours of Monday morning, with kickoff around 12:30 a.m. The halftime show will therefore take place in the middle of the night.
RTL will broadcast the final on free-to-air TV and via streaming on RTL+. Additionally, DAZN's NFL Game Pass will show the game with the original US commentary.
A former competitor on Apple's stage
For Apple, this appointment has a particular significance. Jay-Z acquired the streaming service Tidal in 2015 and built it as an alternative to Spotify and Apple Music. In 2017, he withdrew large portions of his music from both services; it soon returned to Apple Music, but not to Spotify until December 2019. He sold a majority stake in Tidal to Jack Dorsey's Square in 2021. The fact that he, of all people, is now at the helm of Apple Music is fitting for a streaming market where Apple Music primarily competes with Spotify today.
I consider the dual role of selector and headliner less problematic than the timing. If the reported duration from 2022 is accurate, this appearance concludes Apple's first sponsorship phase – with the same man who helped select the four previous shows.
Before the shows with Rihanna, Usher, and Bad Bunny, Apple Music launched a series called "Road to Halftime" about a week before each game. I expect Jay-Z to receive the same accompaniment on Apple Music in early February 2027.
Do you think it's a problem that the man who selects the halftime shows booked himself this time – or is the 30th anniversary of "Reasonable Doubt" the perfect occasion for it? Let us know in the comments if the dual role bothers you.
