Singapore clarifies that Taylor Swift gig grant is not as high as previously speculated
Reports about Singapore offering Taylor Swift millions of dollars per gig for her concerts in the city were dismissed as inaccurate by Singapore officials on Monday. The city expects around 300,000 people from Singapore and the region to attend the six sold-out shows that began on March 2, but some neighbors expressed discontent for being left out of The Eras Tour.
Speculation arose that Swift was paid millions to prevent her from performing anywhere else in the region, with even the Thai prime minister voicing concerns. However, Singapore’s culture minister Edwin Tong stated that the actual grant amount is not as high as rumored due to business confidentiality reasons.
Tong emphasized that the economic benefits to Singapore from hosting Swift’s concerts are substantial and exceed the grant size. Reports claimed that Thailand offered up to US$3 million per concert to Swift if she avoided performing elsewhere in Southeast Asia, leading to criticism from a lawmaker in the Philippines.
Despite the controversy surrounding the grants, Tong downplayed their role in influencing Swift’s decision to perform exclusively in Singapore. He highlighted Singapore’s strategic location and infrastructure as key factors that attract top artists like Swift, as evidenced by recent performances by Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Blackpink, and Harry Styles since the easing of pandemic restrictions.