It’s official: The Singapore leg of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is a resounding success for our country. Thanks to Tay Tay, we had:
And to think some of you were complaining about our coverage of Swift. Whatever deal Singapore brokered with Taylor Swift has undoubtedly paid off. This begs the question: Can we replicate this success with another artiste? And if so, who?
We won’t know exactly what kind of conversations are happening behind the scenes between concert organisers, government bodies and artiste agencies. However, if I was in those meetings, these are the artistes I would suggest wooing to bring about another round of Swiftonomics-esque growth.
1. BEYONCE
Beyonce will be releasing a new album called Cowboy Carter. It is the second part of the singer's three-act project which started with 2022's Renaissance.(Photo: AP/Chris Pizzello)
If there’s one artiste who’s a shoo-in to be Singapore’s next moneymaker, it’s Beyonce. The Grammy Award-winning superstar remains one of the world’s most successful singers and has consistently been putting out critically-acclaimed albums; her next one, titled Act II: Cowboy Carter, will be out on Mar 29.
Now, let’s look at the stats.
Despite having only 56 shows across North America and Europe, Beyonce’s recent Renaissance World Tour is one of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time – raking in over US$579 million (S$731 million). And again, this was achieved without her visiting a single Asian country.
According to the New York Times Magazine, the Renaissance World Tour generated about US$4.5 billion for the American economy. Imagine if Singapore somehow managed to get some of that Lemonade – or even all of it. You can bet we’ll see people worldwide flocking into our country, giving us a Beyonce bump.
Plus, it’s worth mentioning that Beyonce’s first and last performance in Singapore was back in 2009 at the F1 Rocks At Fort Canning concert. That was 15 years ago and three whole years before the birth of Grammy Award-winner Blue Ivy Carter. Suffice it to say, BeyHive members in Singapore – and Asia – are hungry for Queen Bey and a Singapore-exclusive concert would be another halo for our economy.
2. BTS
The members of BTS pose on the red carpet as they attend the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Maria Alejandra Cardona)
All seven members of South Korea’s biggest K-pop group may be serving in the military now but that hasn’t stopped them from serving in the entertainment scene. Projects involving BTS members – whether it’s V starring in the music video for IU’s Love Wins All or J-Hope’s upcoming album Hope On The Street Vol. 1 – are a testament to the group’s enduring popularity.
With BTS’ reunion set for around 2025, Singapore would be wise to get a head start in trying to secure an exclusive deal for them to perform here. The group’s last concert here – and in Southeast Asia – was in 2019. ARMYs all over the region are missing them hard, which means the incentive to travel to Singapore to catch a hypothetical exclusive concert is at an all-time high.
Of course, small businesses here will also stand to gain. If you thought friendship bracelet-making stations were the apex of bandwagoning, you clearly have not witnessed the power of borahae (a popular phrase amongst the BTS fandom, meaning ‘I purple you’). Get ready to drown in a sea of purple as shops will market anything and everything in that colour group as “BTS-themed” to get in on the hype.
However, a Singapore-exclusive BTS concert would probably be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Most overseas fans were (thankfully) understanding towards the whole Eras Tour exclusivity saga. I sincerely doubt the same amount of goodwill will be extended if Southeast Asia discovers that one of the biggest bands of all time – a group with the highest percentage of its global fans staying in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand – will only be performing in one country after years of being away.
3. ADELE
Adele at the Brit Awards 2022 in London. (Photo: AP/Joel C Ryan)
Remember the last time Adele performed here? Trick question. She has never performed in Singapore, or Asia for that matter. So imagine the headlines and hype our country will get if Singapore manages to convince the English songstress to stage her very first Asian show here. Or better yet, a full-blown concert residency – just like her ongoing one in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas’ Weekends With Adele has shown that Adele excels no matter where she performs. It has received raved reviews for its production value and Adele’s powerful vocals. Plus, a residency means more shows which means more money, so concert organisers in Singapore should start making Adele feel our love and entice her to perform here.
4. ARIANA GRANDE
Ariana Grande at the 13th Billboard Women in Music event on Dec 6, 2018, in New York. (Photo: AP/Evan Agostini)
Just like Beyonce, Ariana Grande’s last Singapore show was at an F1 concert many years ago. Couple with the fact that her last concert tour was in 2019, it is high time for the 7 Rings singer to stage a comeback.
Grande has a proven track record when it comes to money-making concerts. 2019’s Sweetener World Tour was her highest-earning tour to date – grossing over US$146 million (S$194 million) from just North America and Europe.
5. ONE DIRECTION
Members of band of One Direction pose upon arrival at the Palais des Festivals during the 14th Annual NRJ Music Awards on January 26, 2013 in Cannes, southeastern France. AFP PHOTO / VALERY HACHE
Admittedly, this is a very long shot. However, if Singapore succeeds in reuniting the biggest boy band of the 2010s (with all five original members), you can bet Directioners all over the world will make it their life’s duty to fly here. Any discontentment from other countries for us making a Singapore-exclusive One Direction reunion concert would immediately be forgiven.
The group has been on an indefinite hiatus since 2016. However, in recent years, the members of One Direction have expressed their openness to a reunion with Harry Styles saying “Never say never” during an interview on The Late Late Show With James Corden.
In their heyday, One Direction’s concert tours could earn upwards of US$200 million; their highest-grossing tour made US$290 million (S$386 million) from just 69 shows.
Now, each member is a successful solo artiste in their own right, putting out well-received albums and solo tours. In fact, Styles’ Love On Tour made over US$610 million (S$812 million). Imagine the moolah if Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and, hopefully, Zayn Malik were added to the mix.
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has proven that Singapore is well-equipped to accommodate concert-goers from all over the world for weeks on end. Plus, it was a financially good deal for us. It makes sense for us to try and replicate it for other highly-influential artistes. That being said, there is a possibility that discussions are already underway. I guess we’ll find out when we find out.
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- More demand for Singapore hotels and airlines,
- Improved sales for small businesses here,
- An estimated S$400 million (US$300 million) added to Singapore's economy in the first quarter of 2024.
And to think some of you were complaining about our coverage of Swift. Whatever deal Singapore brokered with Taylor Swift has undoubtedly paid off. This begs the question: Can we replicate this success with another artiste? And if so, who?
We won’t know exactly what kind of conversations are happening behind the scenes between concert organisers, government bodies and artiste agencies. However, if I was in those meetings, these are the artistes I would suggest wooing to bring about another round of Swiftonomics-esque growth.
1. BEYONCE
Beyonce will be releasing a new album called Cowboy Carter. It is the second part of the singer's three-act project which started with 2022's Renaissance.(Photo: AP/Chris Pizzello)
If there’s one artiste who’s a shoo-in to be Singapore’s next moneymaker, it’s Beyonce. The Grammy Award-winning superstar remains one of the world’s most successful singers and has consistently been putting out critically-acclaimed albums; her next one, titled Act II: Cowboy Carter, will be out on Mar 29.
Now, let’s look at the stats.
Despite having only 56 shows across North America and Europe, Beyonce’s recent Renaissance World Tour is one of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time – raking in over US$579 million (S$731 million). And again, this was achieved without her visiting a single Asian country.
According to the New York Times Magazine, the Renaissance World Tour generated about US$4.5 billion for the American economy. Imagine if Singapore somehow managed to get some of that Lemonade – or even all of it. You can bet we’ll see people worldwide flocking into our country, giving us a Beyonce bump.
Plus, it’s worth mentioning that Beyonce’s first and last performance in Singapore was back in 2009 at the F1 Rocks At Fort Canning concert. That was 15 years ago and three whole years before the birth of Grammy Award-winner Blue Ivy Carter. Suffice it to say, BeyHive members in Singapore – and Asia – are hungry for Queen Bey and a Singapore-exclusive concert would be another halo for our economy.
2. BTS
The members of BTS pose on the red carpet as they attend the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Maria Alejandra Cardona)
All seven members of South Korea’s biggest K-pop group may be serving in the military now but that hasn’t stopped them from serving in the entertainment scene. Projects involving BTS members – whether it’s V starring in the music video for IU’s Love Wins All or J-Hope’s upcoming album Hope On The Street Vol. 1 – are a testament to the group’s enduring popularity.
With BTS’ reunion set for around 2025, Singapore would be wise to get a head start in trying to secure an exclusive deal for them to perform here. The group’s last concert here – and in Southeast Asia – was in 2019. ARMYs all over the region are missing them hard, which means the incentive to travel to Singapore to catch a hypothetical exclusive concert is at an all-time high.
Of course, small businesses here will also stand to gain. If you thought friendship bracelet-making stations were the apex of bandwagoning, you clearly have not witnessed the power of borahae (a popular phrase amongst the BTS fandom, meaning ‘I purple you’). Get ready to drown in a sea of purple as shops will market anything and everything in that colour group as “BTS-themed” to get in on the hype.
However, a Singapore-exclusive BTS concert would probably be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Most overseas fans were (thankfully) understanding towards the whole Eras Tour exclusivity saga. I sincerely doubt the same amount of goodwill will be extended if Southeast Asia discovers that one of the biggest bands of all time – a group with the highest percentage of its global fans staying in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand – will only be performing in one country after years of being away.
3. ADELE
Adele at the Brit Awards 2022 in London. (Photo: AP/Joel C Ryan)
Remember the last time Adele performed here? Trick question. She has never performed in Singapore, or Asia for that matter. So imagine the headlines and hype our country will get if Singapore manages to convince the English songstress to stage her very first Asian show here. Or better yet, a full-blown concert residency – just like her ongoing one in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas’ Weekends With Adele has shown that Adele excels no matter where she performs. It has received raved reviews for its production value and Adele’s powerful vocals. Plus, a residency means more shows which means more money, so concert organisers in Singapore should start making Adele feel our love and entice her to perform here.
4. ARIANA GRANDE
Ariana Grande at the 13th Billboard Women in Music event on Dec 6, 2018, in New York. (Photo: AP/Evan Agostini)
Just like Beyonce, Ariana Grande’s last Singapore show was at an F1 concert many years ago. Couple with the fact that her last concert tour was in 2019, it is high time for the 7 Rings singer to stage a comeback.
Grande has a proven track record when it comes to money-making concerts. 2019’s Sweetener World Tour was her highest-earning tour to date – grossing over US$146 million (S$194 million) from just North America and Europe.
5. ONE DIRECTION
Members of band of One Direction pose upon arrival at the Palais des Festivals during the 14th Annual NRJ Music Awards on January 26, 2013 in Cannes, southeastern France. AFP PHOTO / VALERY HACHE
Admittedly, this is a very long shot. However, if Singapore succeeds in reuniting the biggest boy band of the 2010s (with all five original members), you can bet Directioners all over the world will make it their life’s duty to fly here. Any discontentment from other countries for us making a Singapore-exclusive One Direction reunion concert would immediately be forgiven.
The group has been on an indefinite hiatus since 2016. However, in recent years, the members of One Direction have expressed their openness to a reunion with Harry Styles saying “Never say never” during an interview on The Late Late Show With James Corden.
In their heyday, One Direction’s concert tours could earn upwards of US$200 million; their highest-grossing tour made US$290 million (S$386 million) from just 69 shows.
Now, each member is a successful solo artiste in their own right, putting out well-received albums and solo tours. In fact, Styles’ Love On Tour made over US$610 million (S$812 million). Imagine the moolah if Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and, hopefully, Zayn Malik were added to the mix.
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has proven that Singapore is well-equipped to accommodate concert-goers from all over the world for weeks on end. Plus, it was a financially good deal for us. It makes sense for us to try and replicate it for other highly-influential artistes. That being said, there is a possibility that discussions are already underway. I guess we’ll find out when we find out.
Continue reading...