5 Business Lessons from Rihanna's Super Bowl LVII performance

The Super Bowl is the biggest game in US sports and one of the biggest televised games in the world. The Super Bowl LVII of 2023 was unique because it featured a lot of "firsts." The game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs was held on Sunday, February 12th in Arizona.

Here are some of the firsts that grabbed the headlines.

1. The first time in NFL history that the Super Bowl featured two African American starting quarterbacks.
2. The first time in NFL history that two brothers played against each other. (Travis and Jason Kelce).
3. The first time since 2017 that both 1-seeds made the Super Bowl.
4. The first time in NFL history that a pregnant woman performed at the halftime Super Bowl show.

There were many lessons to glean from the Superbowl this year. However, for the purpose of this article, I'd like to focus on the halftime performance by Rihanna. The business lessons that I took away from her performance were very inspiring and great reminders for me and anyone else paying attention. The fact that Rihanna is the first pregnant woman to perform at a Super Bowl is huge. Not only was it the biggest pregnancy reveal ever, but it was also a big #girlpower moment for women everywhere.

Below are 5 business lessons that I took away from her performance.

1. Fearlessness While Trying Something New

Throughout her performance, Rihanna was elevated to heights above hundreds of feet. There were 7 floating stages during Rihanna’s Apple Super Bowl LVII performance. According to Bruce Rogers, the halftime production show designer, who spoke to Wired, this type of production had never been done before. Each time that the production crew raised her platform, Rihanna was poised, graceful, and steadily performing without skipping a beat. Her voice didn’t crack and her feet didn’t stumble. She simply displayed fearlessness throughout her entire performance. 

Power Tip:

Never allow fear to stop you, but allow it to propel you to your desired goals.

2. Sharing Your Story Empowers Others to Do the Same

Rihanna used one of the most watched football games of the year to share news of her second pregnancy. She didn’t have to make an announcement, she simply made an appearance showcasing her baby bump. Obviously, this baby bump had everyone talking about her appearance and trying to confirm if she was indeed pregnant. During the big game, her staff actually confirmed she was pregnant via social media, and the conversations online turned from confusion to congratulations. Also, Rihanna probably gained new fans and followers. Undoubtedly, there were moms who may not have been Rihanna fans but became fans that night because they could relate to having to show up for work, and do a great job, while pregnant.

Power Tip:

Your story is a part of the brand that will connect you with your target audience so share it.

3. Accept Non-Paid Opportunities That Will Pay Off Later

It's no secret that the artists who perform at the NFL Superbowl Halftime shows are not paid for their appearance. However, the exposure they receive is priceless. Not only does the NFL spend millions to promote the big game, but their advertisers also spend big dollars to promote the big game as well. The NFL executives also know that the artists who perform at halftime will receive tons of publicity after their performance that can be leveraged into future paydays and opportunities for them. The bottom line is simply don't scorn non-paying gigs, simply learn how to make them work for you.

Power Tip:

Not every opportunity is paid in the beginning but every opportunity can be leveraged to pay off in the end.

4. Showcase Your Brand Vibe

As soon as Rihanna hit the stage, she brought a vibe that was cool, slow, and sexy. Her brand has always been hip and cool. However, her career spans 17 years and when she was younger she danced fast and did choreography that made women want to take a dance class. This time, Rihanna flipped the script. She wasn’t dancing fast, popping, locking, and twerking like she did pre-pregnancy, but she was still moving rhythmically with her dancers to prove that her brand is still cool and timeless. Her choreography was smooth and steady but still showcased her rhythm. Her fans not only loved it but got excited about the routines performed by the dancers as well.

Power Tip:

Never adjust to the energy in the room, but bring your own brand energy to every situation. 

5. Bring Your Tribe To Attract Your Tribe

How you show up is vitally important. The people whom you chose to associate with to promote your brand speak volumes. Rihanna showed up on stage in a red outfit with talented backup dancers adorned in all-white to help her create a great look and synchronized show. As she performed 12 songs in 13 minutes, the excitement of seeing lots of dancers moving across the field was energetic and a beautiful display of teamwork, courage, and collaboration. It takes a lot of planning to execute a dance routine on a big stage with all the world watching. Not only did Rihanna and her dancers pull it together, but they also did so with courage, confidence, and style. Rihanna’s fanbase loved the choreography and social media ate it up.

Power Tip: Make sure you surround yourself with teammates who make you look good when the pressure is on. 

Whether you're a fan of Rihanna's or not, it's my belief that at a minimum she is worthy of respect for making the brave decision to perform while pregnant on one of the biggest stages in the world. Her performance opened her up to praise and criticism alike. However, it worked to her advantage because the world was watching and we're still talking about it. The buzz simply proves that her brand is still relevant despite the fact that prior to her Super Bowl appearance this year, Rihanna hadn't performed live in 7 years. The buzz around her Super Bowl appearance will be golden publicity for years to come. What a brilliant business lesson!

Can you relate to any of the lessons I shared above? If so, leave a comment below. I’d ❤️ love to hear your thoughts.

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This article was written by Lori A. Manns, President of Quality Media Consultant Group, a business consultancy firm specializing in advertising, marketing, and sales solutions for optimal business growth. Connect with Lori on LinkedIn.

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