Why The NFL’s Super Bowl Halftime Pay-To-Play Gambit Won’t Work

Bruno Mars rocketed his career to another planet last winter, using the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show as a launching pad. The Hawaii native lit up the chilly northeastern night with a sizzling drum solo, blazing dance moves and a duet with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Like U2, Madonna, Michael Jackson and many other superstars before him, Mars wasn’t paid for his efforts; compensation came in the form of increased exposure. A record 115 million people tuned in to watch the 12-minute performanc...