Sting reportedly earns massive Grand Final payday

MUSIC icon Sting will be smiling just as much as Western Bulldogs fans, with rumours saying the ageing rocker received a mammoth payday for his AFL Grand Final performance.

MUSIC icon Sting will be smiling just as much as Western Bulldogs fans, with rumours saying the ageing rocker received a mammoth payday for his AFL Grand Final performance.

3AW’s rumour file this morning claimed the singer earned a whopping $1.2 million for his three-song set.

However, a music industry source has suggested the $1.2 million figure for three songs is highly unlikely.

A spokeswoman for promoter Michael Gudinski said only the AFL could officially comment on performers’ fees. Despite speculation in the past, these fees are confidential and are never revealed to the public.

The 65-year-old rocker, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday, added the international flavour to the AFL’s pre-game concert, following on from perfomances from Mike Brady, Vance Joy and The Living End.

The former Police frontman has a new album out next month and performed his new single at the Grand Final as well as two Police classics.

While the performances of “Message In A Bottle” and “Every Breath You Take” drew praise from most punters, many others have questioned the addition of the lesser known song “I Can’t Stop Thinking About You” to his set.

Sting’s Grand Final performance has also doubled as a promotional tour.

He flew into Melbourne a few hours before the Grand Final on Saturday morning and is spending today promoting his new album.

EARLIER: IN a feat as rare as the Western Bulldogs making a Grand Final some fans have praised pre-match entertainment this year.

Australian Vance Joy turned the tide on usually reproachable feedback of national and international acts performing in the centre of the MCG.

@vancejoy nailing the @AFL Grand final entertainment #awesome #Aussie #kickinggoals #godoggies #bandwagon

— Melissa Willson (@MelWillson18) October 1, 2016

Well done AFL - Vance joy 👏👏👏 - best pre game entertainment for a long time! #homegrown

— Liz Lenaghan (@Izzyjanebreen) October 1, 2016

@vancejoy brilliant playing at the AFL grand final. Great to see Aussies as the entertainment @AFL !! #AFLGF

— Bits of Australia (@BitsofAustralia) October 1, 2016

However, the love didn’t last long with the mood returning to status quo soon after.

Fans slammed the AFL for their pre-game entertainment choices when The Living End took the stage, followed by Sting.

Yet again the @AFL stuff up the pre game "entertainment" #noatmosphereatall . the @NFL do it better than any1/ even the Euros were better!

— Mihailo Somuncic (@Mihailo_1) October 1, 2016

Ok I'm prepared to take on the job of entertainment next year Looking for participants to take proposal to @afl #AFLGF

— Sherridan Barker (@sherridan59) October 1, 2016

It really doesn't get any worse than the AFL pre-match entertainment.

— Daniel Breban (@DBreban) October 1, 2016

AFL Grand Final Entertainment never fails to disappoint, need to get their act together, this is pitiful again #AFLGF #AFLSwansDogs

— Beston and Greenway (@BestonGreenway) October 1, 2016

One day the @AFL will know their audience well enough to choose entertainment that will pump the crowd up not put them to sleep

— Stacey Lee (@_Stacey_Lee_) October 1, 2016

Dear @AFL - please hire a proper and qualified entertainment director. Australia begs you. #AFLGF

— Troiboi (@Troiboi) October 1, 2016

This Pre game entertainment at the AFL makes me feel awful

— Roger Fabri (@MrRogerFabri) October 1, 2016

Originally published as Sting reportedly earns massive Grand Final payday