Katy Perry, Rihanna and Coldplay are all in the running to perform at one of the most-watched (and most American) shows of the year ... but, apparently, it's going to cost them.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the NFL has narrowed down its list of potential performers for the Super Bowl Halftime to those three. But they're asking "at least some of the acts" if they would contribute some of their income to the league or make "some other type of financial contribution."

Their reps, naturally, didn't respond too well to the request.

Then again, considering the esteem (and eyeballs) surrounding the halftime performance -- this year's show featuring Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers smashed records with 115.3 million viewers -- it's expected for artists' album sales and publicity to spike post-show.

But at the end of the day: Whose money is it?

Super Bowl XLIX will take place in Phoenix on February 1.