Vietnamese stars' fees can reach up to 2 billion VND per show.

The unbelievable fees of S-list stars.

Previously, the term "A-list celebrity" referred only to top stars in the entertainment industry.

For about the last 5 years, due to the strong development of idol culture, the concept of "S-list stars" has emerged, referring to a very small number of artists who are completely superior to their A-list counterparts. In Vietnam, the number of artists in this group can be counted on one hand.

S-list celebrities command fees ranging from 700-800 million to 2 billion VND.

According to some exclusive sources of VietNamNet, a male singer's fee ranges from 1.2 to 1.6 billion VND per show, with many conditions attached. He once had 1-2 shows that set a record of 2 billion VND.

This category also includes male singer A, who typically charges 1 billion VND for 3 songs. The common conditions are that he doesn't accept small brands and prioritizes brands that already have ambassador contracts with him.

One female singer became famous for charging fees based on personal preference. For major brands, she would quote 1 billion VND, but would readily offer a "friendly" price of 500-600 million VND to close acquaintances.

Category S also has a rapper with a minimum fee, but the conditions are relatively strict.

Category A is divided into two tiers. Tier A+ has a fee equivalent to the minimum fee of Tier S (500-700 million VND), exemplified by a female singer dubbed "The Queen," who recently participated in a large-scale reality TV music show for women and earned a generous 700 million VND.

This tier also brings together most of the hottest Gen Z singers and rappers today, often names who have emerged from top reality TV shows in the last two years, such as singer M., rapper T., rapper H...

A newly emerging male singer, less than 3 years old, has a quoted price ranging from 500-800 million VND, even surpassing S-list stars despite only being an A+.

A female singer, a former winner of a singing competition, despite being absent from the market for a while, still firmly maintains that she "will not sing for less than 500 million VND".

Tier A includes mostly A-list stars from the previous generation, and hot new faces who have "risen in value" thanks to reality TV (even if they didn't win top prizes)... with fees ranging from 250-300 million VND to under 500 million VND.

The B+ and A- tiers overlap, primarily comprising the most sought-after performers currently, who frequently appear at venues and stages ranging from large-scale shows to tea rooms, commanding fees of 200-250 million VND.

Tier B includes veteran names from the previous generation and contemporary singers who are not particularly prominent. The fee is approximately 100-200 million VND.

Category C salaries range from 30-100 million VND. Category D salaries average 5-10 million VND or more. Salaries below this range are usually for young people who are still finding their footing in the profession and trying to make ends meet.

Performance and multi-million dollar fees

The rankings and figures, seemingly straightforward and clearly stated in writing, are for reference only. When it comes to price negotiations, reality is multifaceted and sometimes quite embarrassing.

According to VietNamNet's sources, the pricing process includes not only the singing fee but also many other costs such as: posting program posters before the show, posting photos on social media after the show, etc.

Most singers quote prices as a package deal, with a few stars agreeing to pay separately so that smaller brands can afford it.

For example, a top-tier male singer with an average fee of 1.2 billion VND includes various activities beyond singing, such as new arrangements and commitments to viral social media presence.

Everything is stipulated in the contract, obligating the singer to fulfill and report fully in order to fulfill their obligations to the brand.

The figures above are, for the most part, average for a small to medium-sized show. For larger shows with a strong brand element, these numbers can increase by 30-50%.

Travel and accommodation costs also account for a significant portion. For example, a top-tier female singer residing abroad with a fee of 250-300 million VND only accepts shows on the condition that they book business class air tickets and stay in at least 4-star hotels.

Prices tend to change increasingly rapidly, sometimes within just a few months. The final figure depends on many objective and subjective factors.

For example, A- and B+ tier singers command generous fees of 200-250 million VND. However, smaller venues like tea rooms prefer a revenue-sharing model, with ratios of 50:50 or 60:40 depending on the location. For instance, if a concert earns 200 million VND, the singer might only receive 100 million VND.

This stems from the practice of smaller venues holding regular shows with a fixed audience, where singers accept a revenue-sharing arrangement to maintain familiar relationships in exchange for a stable income.

It's not uncommon for singers to quote prices based on personal feelings. Some earn up to 500 million VND but only quote 100-150 million VND to close friends and family. Some names never "give" more than 20-50 million VND.

Show promoters favor A-list singers from previous generations because of their reasonable fees, high efficiency, and good teamwork. Many promoters particularly appreciate a male singer nicknamed "The King" for his emotional personality.

"They are the most sought-after singers, while many contemporary A-list singers have few shows due to their attitude. No promoter wants to work with someone who quotes high prices but has problematic attitudes. In reality, each show or event only has one 'key' name. Besides this person, the remaining 4-5 names can be changed in a snap depending on the budget," the source said.

Ironically, some celebrities suddenly raise their prices, only to find themselves in a dilemma – unable to lower their price but also losing shows if they keep it the same.

"For example, singer B. has a fee of 600-700 million VND, but nobody invites her to perform. At that price, I'd rather invite singer T. for only around 400 million VND, but it would be just as effective," the source said.

Ultimately, the amount of money earned does not determine a singer's ranking in the entertainment industry.

Veteran singers remain A-list stars even if their current fees are only equivalent to B-list artists. Conversely, many singers with A-list fees are only positioned as B-list artists in the market.

Salary is sometimes directly related to performance, as the saying goes, "performance is temporary, class is permanent."