Taylor Swift has made headlines for much of her celebrated career, most notably in 2023 with the arrival of her much-hyped Eras Tour, which is set to arrive here at Singapore as part of its Asia leg on March 2. With millions of fans crowding into sold out stadiums across the United States and South America, the record-smashing Eras Tour had Swifties in Europe, Asia, and Southeast Asia in a chokehold, all awaiting their moment to catch the legendary singer live on home ground. But there’s just one caveat — Taylor Swift will be skipping all other Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
On June 21, 2023, Swifties across Southeast Asia — most notably Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines — were stunned to learn that Taylor Swift would only be performing in Singapore, with the Eras tour bound for our National Stadium on March 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9.
The shocking revelation, which excluded the 10 other nations that make up Southeast Asia, led to public expressions of disappointment among Swifties who had long wished to see the Taylor Swift in action.
Tickets have long since sold out across all available dates, with fans across Asia expected to fly in for an experience to remember.
The ASEAN clause and why Taylor Swift will only tour in Singapore, skipping Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines
Many Southeast Asian fans have since made peace with Taylor Swift’s singular Singapore stop, which will also feature singer Sabrina Carpenter as an opening act. However, a recent report in the Thai Enquirer featuring Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has added fresh fuel to the controversy surrounding the ASEAN leg of the Eras Tour.
While reports have long circulated among Swifties of an exclusivity deal that prevented the superstar from performing in other ASEAN countries, Thavisin appeared to confirm it at a recent Bangkok business event. Speaking up following a discussion with global concert promoter Anschutz Entertainment Group, Thavisin expressed his disappointment at the arrangement, alluding to the ‘clever’ use of a clause.
Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” is not coming to Thailand because Singapore has a deal that she cannot perform anywhere else in ASEAN, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
— Thai Enquirer (@ThaiEnquirer) February 16, 2024
Srettha said he had spoken to the organizer of the concert, and they informed him about the deal.… pic.twitter.com/0KcqlH8jMt
According to Thavisin, he had recently been made aware that Swift’s team had been offered USD 2 million to USD 3 million per show in exchange for exclusivity rights. He then went on to add, “If I had known this, I would have brought the shows to Thailand,” noting that “concerts can generate added value for the economy.”
As the highest-grossing tour of all time and the first to surpass USD 1 billion in revenue, Swift’s Eras Tour is certain to positively impact the revenue of all its hosting nations. While Singaporean Swifties have proven to be the biggest winners in this scenario, those with keen business instincts will see the ASEAN clause for what it is: a good business decision.
In response to Thavisin’s interview, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth (MCCY) have released their own joint statement, affirming their involvement in providing a grant towards the concert. As per reports from local news media, the statement expressed that tourism sectors like hospitality, retail, travel, and dining were likely to benefit from the event. This method of driving the economy does not differ from those of other cities in which the starlet has performed. With over 300,000 tickets sold for the Singapore leg of the Eras tour, local businesses can expect to see a bump in revenue during the week of Swift’s concerts.
Understandably, these reports are disappointing for Taylor Swift fans in Asia who have failed to secure tickets for the Singapore leg of the Eras Tour. However, there appears to be hope on the horizon. Many fans are speculating that the ASEAN clause is set to expire at the end of 2024, which leaves the door open for Swift’s potential return to the region. While details are scant on the ground, the speculation nonetheless provides some much-needed hope for Swifties who want to catch the songstress live.
In the meantime, Swifties who have secured tickets can gear up for the Singapore concerts. Even those who have failed to secure tickets can experience the magical Eras Tour concert film, which is slated to stream on Disney+ come March 15 this year.
Singapore to set the stage for Swift’s Eras tour
With less than a month to go before Taylor Swift’s arrival at Singapore for the Eras Tour, fans and businesses alike are gearing up with swift specials and exclusive events. As the official presenting partner for the event, Marina Bay Sands unveiled exclusive experiential and staycation packages that are set to welcome inbound Swifties into the lap of luxury. It is a true testament to the spirit of Singapore’s Swifties that these packages, which start from SGD 10,000, are fully sold out.
In anticipation of the global superstar’s imminent arrival, Jewel Changi Airport will also be hosting a three-hour sing-along session led by singer and Swiftie Joie Tan and local band 53A. The event aims to pay tribute to Taylor Swift ahead of her Singapore concert tour dates, where fans in attendance will be able to practise their fan chants and socialise amongst Swifties like themselves. Attendees will also receive exclusive Changi Airport Group friendship bracelets and an extra packet of beads to craft their own to wear to Swift’s upcoming concerts.
(Main and featured images: Taylor Swift/Instagram)
This article first appeared on Prestige Online Singapore
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Why did Taylor cancel her concert in Thailand?
Taylor Swift will only be performing in Singapore for the Southeast Asian leg of her Eras Tour in 2024. Swift has considered performing in Thailand before, though. In 2014, Taylor Swift cancelled a sold-out concert, which was to be held at the Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani in the Nonthaburi Province. Reports from Time suggest that this was due to a military coup that had occured in the country at the time.
– What countries is Taylor Swift popular in?
Taylor Swift has achieved global fame, and her Eras Tour has been sold out in venues across the world, including in Singapore, where she is scheduled to perform on March 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9.
This story originally appeared in Augustman Singapore
Emmelyn curates and creates content in Kuala Lumpur, where she's spent the past decade building a portfolio comprising copy and video spanning both print and digital platforms. Endlessly fascinated with cookbooks, interior design, aesthetics, and video games, she is also an ardent foodie - a lemon tart, lychee martini, and coffee enthusiast. Her favourite animal is the common wombat. She's written one award winning cookbook.
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