Get ready! Taylor Swift owned pop culture in 2023 and will continue to dominate in 2024
December 7, 2023 – 7:39 AM PST
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Pop superstar Taylor Swift rocked concert stages, cinemas, local economies – and even the Earth – in 2023.
Swift’s Eras Tour sold out stadiums and pumped millions of dollars into each city it visited. A movie version of the show lit up theaters, racking up $250 million in ticket sales.
With 26 billion streams, Swift ranked as Spotify’s most popular artist of the year. In July, the 33-year-old became the first female artist to have four albums on Billboard’s top 10 list at the same time.
“She keeps leveling up,” said Colin Stutz, news director at Billboard. He ranked Swift’s achievements alongside musical elites such as The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson.
If Swift were a record label, Stutz said, the “Anti-Hero” singer would stand as the fourth largest in the U.S. by revenue from her touring, merchandise, streams and other sources.
Time magazine named Swift its 2023 “Person of the Year”.
“This is the proudest and happiest I’ve ever felt, and the most creatively fulfilled and free I’ve ever been,” Swift told the magazine.
In 2023, the singer released re-recordings of two records – “Speak Now” and “1989” – as part of her effort to take control of her back catalog.
A Swift concert in Seattle caused a small earthquake. Thousands of dancing fans set off a nearby seismometer, registering the equivalent of a magnitude 2.3 quake.
For 2024, the Swift Effect will spread around the world as her tour hits Asia, Australia, Europe and Canada.
WHY IT MATTERS
Swift did not just rule the music business. She lifted local economies, encouraged voter registrations and brought more viewers to professional football.
The Eras Tour grossed more than $900 million in ticket sales, Billboard estimates. The media outlet projects that will nearly double by the end of 2024 and surpass Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour as the highest-grossing tour in history.
Each stop by Swift brought an influx of Swifties who spent money on hotels, meals and more. Celebrities and moms and dads also joined their superfan children for one of the hottest tickets of the year.
While it is hard to reliably estimate Swift’s economic impact, it was notable enough for the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia to cite a three-night Eras run as a driver of tourist traffic.
One contact told Fed researchers that May was “the strongest month for hotel revenue in Philadelphia since the onset of the pandemic, in large part due to an influx of guests for the Taylor Swift concerts,” a July report said.
Two shows in Denver injected $140 million into Colorado, local authorities estimate. Six nights near Los Angeles added $320 million and 3,300 jobs to the area, according to the California Center for Jobs and the Economy.
Swift’s impact had local politicians embracing her.
“Mayor after mayor would rename their city for a day,” said Arizona State University Professor Margaretha Bentley. Glendale, Arizona, for example, temporarily became Swift City.
Bentley is teaching a class next year called Taylor Swift (Public Policy Version). It will explore government through the lens of Swift, looking at topics such as her impact on voter registration. After Swift urged fans to register, Vote.org reported 35,000 signups. Harvard, Stanford and other colleges also offer courses on Swift’s songwriting and influence.
In sports, Swift’s high-profile romance with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce brought new viewers to football games. Sales of Kelce jerseys jumped 400% in one day, online seller Fanatics said.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR 2O24
While Swift was seemingly everywhere in 2023, her Eras Tour only spanned the U.S., Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. In February, it heads to Tokyo before swinging through Australia, Singapore and Europe. It wraps in Vancouver in December 2024.
Swift may be seen at February’s Grammys, where her record “Midnights” will contend for album of the year.
The superstar also may release another re-recording, or two in the coming year, Stutz said. A prolific songwriter, Swift could debut new material.
“To have this level of popularity sustained, and continue to grow, is pretty remarkable,” Stutz said. “It will be interesting to see how long she’s able to keep that success and what it looks like as she grows and matures.”
Reporting by Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Dan Burns in New York; Editing by Lisa Shumaker
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What records did Taylor Swift break with her music streams and simultaneous albums on Billboard’s top 10 list?
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As the year 2023 comes to a close, it is undeniable that Taylor Swift has left an indelible mark on the music industry and beyond. From her sold-out Eras Tour to her record-breaking streams on Spotify, Swift has proven herself to be a force to be reckoned with.
The Eras Tour, which traveled across the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina, was a monumental success. Swift filled stadiums and injected millions of dollars into local economies along the way. But her impact went beyond ticket sales. A movie version of the tour was released, raking in an impressive $250 million in ticket sales. Swift’s ability to captivate audiences and bring her music to life on the big screen is a testament to her artistry and entertainment prowess.
Not only did Swift dominate the concert scene, but she also dominated the airwaves. With 26 billion streams, Swift earned the title of Spotify’s most popular artist of the year. In a historic feat, she became the first female artist to have four albums simultaneously on Billboard’s top 10 list. These accomplishments solidified her status among musical elites such as The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson.
Colin Stutz, news director at Billboard, remarked on Swift’s remarkable success, stating, “She keeps leveling up.” He compared her achievements to those of legendary musicians, highlighting her impact and influence on the industry. In fact, if Swift were a record label, Stutz believes she would be the fourth-largest in the U.S. in terms of revenue from touring, merchandise, streams, and other sources.
It is not just the music industry that Swift has conquered. She has also made an impact on local economies, voter registrations, and even professional football. The Eras Tour grossed over $900 million in ticket sales, with projections estimating that it will become the highest-grossing tour in history by the end of 2024, surpassing Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour. Each stop on Swift’s tour brought an influx of fans who spent money on hotels, meals, and more, boosting local economies. Celebrities and parents also joined their superfan children, making it one of the hottest tickets of the year.
The economic impact of Swift’s tour was notable enough for the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia to take notice. They cited a three-night Eras run as a driver of tourist traffic, with hotel revenue in Philadelphia reaching its highest point since the onset of the pandemic. Similarly, cities like Denver and Los Angeles experienced a significant economic boost from Swift’s concerts, injecting hundreds of millions of dollars into their local economies and creating thousands of jobs.
Politicians also embraced Swift’s influence. Mayors across the country renamed their cities for a day in honor of the singer, showcasing the impact she had on local communities. In academia, Swift’s impact is being explored through various courses and studies. Taylor Swift-themed courses are being taught at universities such as Harvard and Stanford, delving into her songwriting and influence on society.
Beyond music and economics, Swift’s influence has reached the world of sports. Her high-profile romance with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce brought new viewers to football games. Sales of Kelce jerseys jumped a staggering 400% in just one day, highlighting the power of Swift’s star power.
Looking ahead to 2024, Swift shows no signs of slowing down. The Eras Tour will continue its journey, making stops in Asia, Australia, Europe, and Canada. Swift’s impact on the music industry is poised to grow even further, with projections estimating that her tour will surpass Elton John’s record as the highest-grossing tour in history. In addition, she may release more re-recordings and debut new material, showcasing her prolific songwriting abilities.
“To have this level of popularity sustained and continue to grow is pretty remarkable,” said Colin Stutz. Swift’s ability to captivate audiences, impact local economies, and make a mark on various aspects of society is a testament to her talent, dedication, and widespread appeal. As we look forward to 2024 and beyond, it will be fascinating to see how Swift’s influence continues to shape the music industry and beyond.
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