From P1M ‘per akyat’ to P100M package deal: The talent fees of some celebs endorsing candidates

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[Editor’s note: This story is a translation of Mr. Santiago’s exclusive report for Bandera.]

The campaign season for the Presidential elections on May 9, 2022 has officially started, and as with past elections, celebrities are expected to attend and perform during campaign rallies for candidates, all over the country.

Politicians typically call on the services of actors, singers and other popular personalities to provide entertainment during the campaign, and to attract huge crowds in the places they would visit. But for sure, there will be changes in the conditions and situations for the elections and other election-related activities this year, due to health protocols imposed amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In the proclamation rallies of presidential, vice-presidential and senatorial candidates yesterday, the public saw several celebrities give their evident support to certain candidates. There are those who say that their endorsement of candidates are for free, because they believe in what their candidates stand for.

But we have spoken with sources from political circles and the entertainment industry about the talent fees of some celebrities and performers who go on stage at campaign rallies. According to one of these sources who’s a political strategist, a talent fee can go as high as P100 million for a huge celebrity. The source explained that this amount already represents the total which the celebrity would receive for the entire campaign period. This already covers out-of-town trips and appearances in commercials in various platforms.

The usual process of payment involves the initial release of a downpayment of half of the agreed amount. Release of the other half follows whatever conditions the parties agree upon.

Meanwhile, in the case of another actor-singer-TV-host, management asked for an P80-million package deal. It’s negotiable, though, so the said rate can still go down.

Our source also identified an award-winning actress who can also sing and dance, an all-round package, and whose rate is at P75 million.

An actress who appears on TV can meanwhile command about P60 million, while young stars ask for within the range of P25 million to P35 million.

There are also those who are categorized as “3rd class” stars whose rates range from P3 million to P5 million. These rates are supposedly already “all in,” which means it covers appearances, singing, dancing, acting in TV ads, voice for radio campaigns, and social media promotion.

Another source told us that one popular dance group asks for P200,000 for just one dance number, while P150,000 is paid to one hunk actor in exchange for two songs, and P250,000 is the talent fee of a newbie singer for two songs as well.

Since these rates are pre-pandemic, it’s possible that they are even higher now, a source said, adding that there are celebrities who are paid “per akyat” (for every time they go up on stage). This means that if the said celebrity, for example, commands a talent fee of P1 million, and should this celeb go up on stage 10 times to perform in just one day, that talent can earn up to P10 million in a day. JB

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