Taylor Swift is the most popular woman in the world, so it's no surprise that neighboring countries are preparing to clash due to a small nation's exclusivity over her. Tour of the eras appearance.
Politicians in the Philippines and Thailand express themselves on an agreement concluded by Singapore this limits Swift's Eras Tour of Southeast Asia to the wealthy city-state.
The 34-year-old singer, who is currently in the middle of her sold-out six-concert tour in Singapore, has been received a grant to perform in the country.
But this will be his only stop in the Southeast Asia.
A deal was reportedly brokered by Singaporean authorities banning Taylor from performing in other territories in the region, in the event that Swifties were forced to flock to Singapore.
Taylor Swift reportedly received millions to make Singapore her only Southeast Asian tour stop
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the deal with Singapore made sense because he has long wondered why Swift looked down on Thailand.
The prime minister of Thailand, one of the countries harmed by Swift's one-stop island-hopping, told the iBusiness Forum 2024, held recently in Bangkok, that the Singapore government had offered Swift up to at $3 million per show in exchange for exclusivity to the Eras Tour. .
Filipino politician Joey Salceda also speaks out on the perceived economic harm. He called on his country's foreign ministry to protest the grant to Swift.
He told local media that neighboring governments are supposed to be allies, working in tandem to strengthen the region and that the Singapore-brokered deal is a hurtful betrayal.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin called Singapore's decision “clever”, adding that he had long wondered why Swift did not choose to perform in Thailand.
“If she had come to Thailand, it would have been cheaper to hold the event here, and I think she would be able to attract more sponsors and tourists to Thailand,” he said.
“Even if we had to subsidize at least 500 million baht ($14 million), it would be worth it.
“If I had known that, I would have brought the shows to Thailand. Concerts can generate added value for the economy.
The Singapore shows are likely to be a boon to the economy. Swift sold out six nights at the 55,000-seat National Stadium this month.
Singapore's tourism board and Ministry of Culture did not disclose the amount of the grant, but cited the economic benefits brought by Swift's concerts around the world.
They said the ministry worked with concert promoter AEG Presents to get Swift to perform in Singapore.
Philippine lawmaker Joey Salceda said the deal between the Singapore government and Swift was a betrayal by a government meant to work alongside other regional powers.
Singapore's tourism board and Ministry of Culture did not disclose the amount of the grant, but cited the economic benefits brought by Swift's concerts around the world.
Swift fans flock from Philippines capital Manila to Singapore for Swift's Eras tour leg
Swift performs at the Singapore National Stadium from March 2 to 9
More than 300,000 tickets were sold to fans who waited all night in the tropical heat
“This is likely to generate significant benefits for Singapore's economy, particularly for tourism activities such as hospitality, retail, travel and catering, as has happened in other cities in which Taylor Swift performed,” they said in a statement released last Tuesday.
Singapore has seen a concert boom since the end of pandemic lockdowns, with big names like Blackpink, Coldplay and Ed Sheeran playing sold-out shows.
The Singapore government has not commented on the exclusivity clause, although AEG said Swift's only concert in Southeast Asia would be on the island, with VIP tickets costing S$1,228 ( 1,395 Australian dollars).
On the wider Asian continent, Swift also performed in Tokyo in early February.
His concerts in Singapore will take place from March 2 to 9.
More than 300,000 tickets were sold to fans who queued all night in the scorching tropical heat.
During her second sold-out concert in Singapore last week, Swift revealed that the final version of her upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, will include a bonus track called The Black Dog.
The highly anticipated album will be released on April 19.
The album cover appeared behind her on stage as she sat at her piano, according to reports shared by viewers on X.
The 34-year-old singer has revealed that the final version of her upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, will include a bonus track called The Black Dog.
In front of more than 50,000 fans for her second night at the Singapore National Stadium, she unveiled the fourth and final version of her upcoming album, which will be released on April 19.
During her first performance on the Eras Tour Singapore, Swift shared with her fans a meaningful story about what Singapore means to her and her family.
“My mom actually spent a lot of her childhood with her mom, dad and sister in Singapore,” she told a fan about her mother, Andrea Swift.
In a video shared on X by a fan page accountshe explained, “Most of the time when we came here on tour, my mom would pick me up and drive me past her old house, where she went to school.
“So I’ve heard about Singapore my whole life,” she continued.
“To be able to come here and play such a big show with so many beautiful and generous people… it means the world.”