Taylor Swift is the most popular woman in the world, so it should come as no surprise that neighboring countries are preparing to duke it out due to one small nation’s exclusivity hold on her Eras Tour appearance.
Politicians in the Philippines and Thailand are speaking out over a deal cut by Singapore that limits Swift’s Eras Tour run in Southeast Asia to just the wealthy city-state.
The 34-year-old songstress, who is currently in the middle of her sold-out six-show run in Singapore, was awarded a grant to perform in the country.
But it will be her only stop in Southeast Asia.
A deal was reportedly brokered by Singaporean authorities that barred Taylor from performing in other territories in the region, on the assumption that Swifties would be forced to flock to Singapore.
The Prime Minister of Thailand, one of the countries slighted by Swift’s one-stop island hop, told the iBusiness Forum 2024, which took place recently in Bangkok, that the Singaporean government offered Swift up to $3million per show in exchange for Eras Tour exclusivity.
Filipino politician Joey Salceda is also speaking out about the perceived economic slight. He has called upon his country’s department of foreign affairs to protest the grant awarded to Swift.
He told local outlets that the neighboring governments are meant to be allies, working in tandem to strengthen the region and that the deal Singapore brokered is a hurtful betrayal.
Thai PM Srettha Thavisin called Singapore’s move ‘astute,’ adding that he’d long wondered why Swift had not opted to play in Thailand.
‘If she came to Thailand, it would have been cheaper to organize it here, and I believe she would be able to attract more sponsors and tourists to Thailand,’ he said.
‘Even though we would have to subsidize at least 500m baht ($14million USD), it would be worth it.
‘If I had known this, I would have brought the shows to Thailand. Concerts can generate added value for the economy.’
The Singaporean shows will likely be a boon to the economy. Swift has sold out six nights at the 55,000-seat National Stadium this month.
Singapore’s tourism board and culture ministry did not disclose the amount of the grant, but referred to the economic benefits brought by Swift’s concerts around the world.
They said the ministry had worked with concert promoter AEG Presents to get Swift to perform in Singapore.
Filipino lawmaker Joey Salceda said the Singaporean government’s deal with Swift was a betrayal by a government meant to be working alongside other regional powers
‘It is likely to generate significant benefits to the Singapore economy, especially to tourism activities such as hospitality, retail, travel and dining, as has happened in other cities in which Taylor Swift has performed,’ they said in a statement released last Tuesday.
Singapore has seen a boom in concerts since pandemic lockdowns ended, with big names like Blackpink, Coldplay and Ed Sheeran playing sold-out shows.
The Singapore government has not commented on the exclusivity clause, though AEG has said Swift’s sole concert stop in Southeast Asia will be on the island nation, with VIP tickets going for S$1,228 (AUD$1,395).
In the broader Asian continent, Swift also performed in Tokyo, earlier in February.
Her Singapore concerts will span March 2 to March 9.
Over 300,000 tickets were sold to fans who queued overnight in the blistering tropical heat.
During her second sold-out show in Singapore last week, Swift revealed the final version of her upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, will include a bonus track titled The Black Dog.
The much-anticipated album will be released on April 19.
The album artwork appeared behind her onstage while she sat at her piano, according to posts shared by concertgoers on X.
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The 34-year-old singer revealed the final version of her upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, will include a bonus track titled The Black Dog
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In front of over 50,000 fans for her second night at the Singapore National Stadium, she unveiled the fourth and final version of her forthcoming album — which will be released on April 19
During her first Eras Tour Singapore performance, Swift shared a meaningful story with her fans about what Singapore means to her and her family.
‘My mom actually spent a lot of her childhood with her mom and dad and sister growing up in Singapore,’ she told to the venue of fan about her mother, Andrea Swift.
In a video shared on X by a fan page account, she explained: ‘A lot of the time when we’d come here on tour, my mom would take me and drive me past her old house, where she used to go to school.
‘So I’ve been hearing about Singapore my whole life,’ she continued.
‘To get to come here and play a show this big with so many beautiful, generous people … it means the world.’
