LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Grammy-winning singer Bruno Mars has been invited back to headline next year's Super Bowl half-time show after scoring the second-biggest audience in the show's history two years ago, the American media reported on Wednesday.

In addition to performing at the National Football League's Super Bowl 50, Mars has been asked to "curate" the show, said Billboard magazine, citing unnamed sources.

That means the 29-year-old performer, songwriter and producer will get to handpick the "impressive guests" who appear with him on stage, it said.

The NFL championship game will be held in Santa Clara, California, in February.

Representatives for Mars did not immediately respond to requests for comment and NFL representatives declined to comment.

Mars, whose song Uptown Funk! with producer Mark Ronson has been one of the hits of this summer, brought rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers in for the half-time show in 2014, drawing 115.3 million viewers.

Singer Katy Perry edged Mars out by drawing 118.5 million viewers this year, the most-watched Super Bowl half-time performance in history.

The Super Bowl is the most expensive television program for advertisers, who paid up to US$4.5 million for a 30-second commercial this year. Past performers at the half-time show include Beyonce, Madonna and The Black Eyed Peas.