Report: Singapore Paid Taylor Swift to Avoid Playing in Nearby Cities
Reports from officials in The Philippines and Thailand have uncovered that Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour was financially backed by Singapore to restrict her from performing in any other Southeast Asian city. This move has been criticized by political leaders as an unfair economic tactic against neighboring countries.
The highly anticipated concert tour made a stop in Singapore for six consecutive shows from March 2 to 9. The Prime Minister of Thailand revealed that Singapore struck a deal with Taylor Swift to ensure she wouldn’t schedule any additional performances in Southeast Asia during her current international tour. The Prime Minister estimated that Swift could have earned millions per concert under this exclusive deal, leaving him puzzled as to why she chose not to include nearby cities on her tour itinerary.
During the iBusiness Forum in Bangkok, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin disclosed, “[AEG] didn’t tell me the exact figure, but they said the Singapore government offers subsidies of between $2 and $3 million.” He further explained that Singapore prohibited organizers from arranging any other shows in Southeast Asia as part of the agreement.
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He also mentioned that hosting the concerts in Thailand would have been more cost-effective, estimating a subsidy of at least 500 million baht (approximately $14 million USD).
In response to the deal, Filipino lawmaker Joey Salceda, a Congress representative, urged the Department of Foreign Affairs in the Philippines to officially object to Singapore’s actions. He emphasized the importance of maintaining good relations between neighboring countries and expressed disappointment in Singapore’s decision.
Recent reports revealed that the Singapore Tourism Board and government collaborated to provide Swift with a substantial grant for her performances in the country. All six shows in Singapore were sold out, attracting 55,000 attendees at the National Stadium. Ticket prices ranged from $200 USD to over $1,200 USD for VIP tickets.
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