Singapore Paid Taylor Swift to Not Play in Nearby Cities: REPORT

Reports from The Philippines and Thailand have revealed that Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour was financially sponsored by Singapore to ensure she did not perform in any other city in Southeast Asia. This move has been criticized by political figures in neighboring countries as an economic snub.

The highly sought-after concert tour made a stop in Singapore for six consecutive shows between March 2 and 9. The Prime Minister of Thailand disclosed that Singapore had struck a deal with Swift to restrict her performances to their country alone during her current international tour. The Prime Minister estimated that Swift could have earned millions per show under this exclusive agreement. This decision raised questions as to why other nearby cities were excluded from her tour schedule.

“[AEG] didn’t disclose the exact amount, but they mentioned that the Singapore government offered subsidies ranging from $2 to $3 million,” stated Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin regarding the deal at the iBusiness Forum in Bangkok. “The Singaporean government strategically prohibited [organizers] from organizing any other shows in [south-east] Asia.”

He further noted that hosting shows in Thailand would have been more cost-effective, allowing for subsidies of up to 500 million baht (approximately $14 million USD).

Filipino lawmaker Joey Salceda expressed his disapproval of the deal and urged the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs to formally protest against the grant given by the Singapore government.

“This is not the behavior expected of good neighbors,” Salceda stated. “Our countries share a strong friendship, making actions like these disappointing.”

Recently, it was announced that Swift sold out all six performances in Singapore, attracting 55,000 attendees per show at the National Stadium. Ticket prices ranged from $200 USD to over $1,200 USD for VIP tickets.