Aussie musician furious Katy Perry is getting paid $5m for five songs at AFL Grand Final while local artists struggle to get gigs and festivals are cancelled

Local Australian musicians are furious when they discover US pop star Katy Perry is being paid millions to perform the AFL Grand Final.

As the live music scene Down Under buckles under the cost of living, the 39-year-old hitmaker will reportedly earn $5 million to perform five songs at the MCG on Saturday.

A Melbourne artist took to Facebook on Thursday to criticize the sporting event for dropping millions in international talent while local musicians struggle to get gigs.

‘I just heard on the radio that Katy Perry will get 5 million tomorrow for 5 songs on AFL gf [sic]the local singer wrote in a message he shared with his followers.

‘Certainly given the state of the music industry in this country, that money could have been better spent.

All Australians lining up at an outdoor stage with local acts, promoting the best of Melbourne’s music scene? I get the starting factor, but $5 million for five songs?”

Followers flocked to the musician’s comments to agree, with some saying hiring the international pop star for the AFL Grand Final was ‘not great value for money’.

“Maybe you’re looking for a name that’s already in the country to sing a few songs. “It’s a huge amount of money,” she added.

“Absolutely stupid,” someone else wrote, while another agreed: “Something needs to change. That’s insane!’

A fourth said: ‘If it’s true that’s a bloody shame.’

One Facebook user said: ‘Seems like a large portion of the population would look at a can of old cat turd wrapped in p**s as long as it was known.’

“That’s a ridiculous number… and a bad decision not to have an all-Australian lineup,” someone else wrote of the $5 million price tag.

While many complained about the Australian dollars going to Katy for her upcoming performance, there were some who disagreed.

“Well she probably pays for her own sound team and all the other stuff like insurance and super per person in the lineup,” someone commented.

As the live music scene Down Under buckles under the cost of living, the hitmaker will reportedly earn $5 million to perform five songs at the MCG on Saturday.

Another wrote: ‘No Australian act has the profile and appeal. I’ve tried to think of one, but I can’t. Every legendary act is too old now.”

A third commented: ‘To do that they would have to promote local music all year round. They don’t see any money in it. In this case, Americano pop is king.”

Yet another user pointed out that the AFL Grand Final is broadcast in many other countries, not just Australia, so should appeal to a wider audience.

“Let’s face it, most people going to the grand final couldn’t care less about Katy Perry, but in the bigger picture Australia looks great…” they said.

“I don’t agree and prefer Aussie talent, but I understand why the AFL is doing this… A sneaky way to promote our country I guess.”

Katy will reportedly be paid as much as $5 million to perform a pre-game performance at the AFL Grand Final in Melbourne on Saturday.

A Melbourne artist took to Facebook on Thursday to criticize the sporting event for dropping millions in international talent while local musicians struggle to get gigs.

The US pop star will be paid the huge sum to perform five songs in front of a cheering crowd of 100,000 at the MCG before Sydney takes on Brisbane, the Herald Sun reported.

The huge sum is said to come with some strings attached: that she perform a selection of older well-known hits, rather than songs from her new 143 LP.

Australian pop legend Tina Arena is also rumored to be performing alongside Katy at the huge sporting event.

“There’s going to be a surprise performance from a favorite Australian artist that I look up to,” Katy revealed on Channel Seven’s breakfast show Sunrise.

‘She’ll sing a little with me, I’ll sing a little with her. Sworn to secrecy, locked up, chained, everything.”

Followers flocked to the musician’s comments to agree, with some saying hiring the international pop star for the AFL Grand Final was ‘not great value for money’.

While many complained about the Australian dollars going to Katy for her upcoming performance, there were some who disagreed

Katy’s telling use of the word “chains” led viewers to suspect she was hinting at an appearance alongside Tina, who had a big hit in 1994 with a song of that name.

It comes as Australia’s live music industry has struggled to stay afloat in recent years, with several major local festivals canceled due to low ticket sales.

Birdsville Big Red Bash will not host a festival in 2025, while Bluesfest, Australia’s longest running music festival, closed after 35 years with their final show in 2025.

Other festivals canceled this year include The Harvest Rock music festival, Spilled Milk, Splendor in the Grass, Groovin the Moo, ValleyWays and Tent Pole Music Festival.