Update 9 Mar 2024: Singapore-exclusive deal with Taylor Swift not 'unfriendly' to neighbours, says PM Lee
Singapore's exclusive concert deal with Taylor Swift was not "unfriendly" to neighbouring countries, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday (Mar 5) during a visit to Melbourne.
"Our agencies negotiated an arrangement with her to come to Singapore and perform, and to make Singapore her only stop in Southeast Asia," Mr Lee said. "It has turned out to be a very successful arrangement."
The exclusive arrangement became a talking point in the region after Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said last month that Singapore had brokered a deal with the US pop star. A lawmaker in the Philippines later expressed unhappiness about Singapore's deal and reportedly said "this isn't what good neighbours do".
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Singapore - A look back at the Highlights and Lowlights
From electrifying performances to cute marriage proposals, here are some noteworthy events that happened during Taylor Swift's highly-anticipated Eras Tour – good and bad
The Singapore leg of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour will soon reach its conclusion – her final performance is on Saturday (Mar 9). The six-night concert was undoubtedly one of the country’s – and region’s – most talked about entertainment events in recent times. So did it live up to its hype? We certainly thought so.
Still, a lot of things happened during the time of the Eras Tour and we thought we’d compile a list of some of the more exciting – and side-eye-worthy – events that happened to preserve the fun memories and bring everyone up to speed (especially those who muted CNA Lifestyle on social media during this time).
THE HIGHLIGHTS:
- MASTERCLASS PERFORMANCES AND SET PIECES
- THE OUTROS FOR SABRINA CARPENTER’S SONG, NONSENSE
- DANCER KAMERON SAUNDERS’ SINGLISH
- THE FAMOUS FACES THAT ATTENDED THE ERAS TOUR
- THE MARRIAGE PROPOSALS
- THE SWIFTONOMICS OF IT ALL
THE LOWLIGHTS:
- CROWD CONTROL ISSUES ON THE FIRST NIGHT
- SECURITY LAPSES THAT SAW FANS ENTERING THE VENUE WITHOUT TICKETS
- LOTS OF PEOPLE FELL VICTIM TO TICKET SCAMS RELATED TO THE ERAS TOUR
- THE RAINY WEATHER
Taylor Swift Thanks 'Wonderful' Fans After Wrapping Singapore Eras Tour Leg: ‘See You in May’
"In the meantime I’ve got an album to release…," Swift wrote in the caption of her Instagram post on Sunday
Taylor Swift is saying goodbye to Singapore and the Eras Tour for now. In an Instagram post on Sunday, the "Anti-Hero" singer, 34, shared photos taken during her six performances at the Singapore National Stadium in Kallang. She included a message of gratitude in her caption.
"We got to play 6 shows in Singapore for the most wonderful crowds — just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who traveled and put so much effort into being at our shows," she wrote. "What an unforgettable way to end this leg of the tour!!" Swift acknowledged that she would be taking a break from performing until May, when the Eras Tour resumes in Paris. However, Swifties already know that the singer won't be relaxing much.
"See you in May when we get back to the Eras Tour!! In the meantime I’ve got an album to release." Swift concluded her caption, referencing her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, which is set to drop on April 19.
Govt subsidies for Taylor Swift's exclusive Singapore deal 'nowhere as high' as speculated: Edwin Tong
CNA understands the figure Singapore paid is closer to US$2 million to US$3 million for all six shows, instead of per concert as reports suggest
How much did Singapore pay to be the only regional stop for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour? It is "nowhere as high" as reports have suggested, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong told CNA in an interview on Friday (Mar 1).
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was quoted as saying last month that Singapore had brokered a deal to pay the pop star up to US$3 million for each of her six concerts – in exchange for keeping the shows exclusive to Singapore in Southeast Asia. CNA understands the figure is closer to US$2 million to US$3 million in total for all six shows. Mr Srettha said he had heard about the arrangement from concert promoter AEG. The company has not responded to CNA's repeated requests for comment.
On Feb 20, the Singapore Tourism Board said it "supported the event through a grant" but did not reveal the size of the grant or any conditions attached to it. Mr Tong said on Friday that concert promoters know "exactly what they're doing" when they choose where to hold shows and where not to. "What I'll say is this: The numbers that you see online – it is nowhere as high as what is being speculated." He added that he will speak more about this in parliament next Monday.
STB gave grant for Taylor Swift's Singapore concerts, other government bodies 'worked directly' with promoter AEG
STB and the Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth were responding to media queries after the Thai prime minister said Singapore had struck an exclusive deal with Taylor Swift
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) provided a grant to help bring Taylor Swift's world tour to the country next month, her only stop in Southeast Asia. STB and the Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth (MCCY) said this on Tuesday (Feb 20) in response to media queries, although they stopped short of confirming if an exclusive deal was struck preventing the US pop sensation from holding her Eras world tour elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
Questions surrounding a performance deal surfaced on Friday when Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that the Singapore government offered US$2 million to US$3 million per show in exchange for exclusivity in Southeast Asia. According to Mr Srettha, concert promoter AEG had informed him of the arrangement.
In their joint response to CNA's queries, MCCY and STB did not specify the size of the grant or the conditions attached to it. They said MCCY and the Kallang Alive Sport Management had "worked directly" with AEG for Swift to perform in Singapore at the National Stadium, recognising that there would be "significant demand" from local and regional fans. "STB also supported the event through a grant," they added. Kallang Alive Sport Management, a wholly owned entity under MCCY, manages the Singapore Sports Hub where the National Stadium is located.
Taylor Swift Concert in Singapore
Taylor Swift Announces The Eras Tour Singapore For 6 Shows In 2024, Ticket Prices From $108 to $348
Concert-goers and music lovers in Singapore are in luck. Adding to this list of female artistes who are holding a concert in our Little Red Dot is none other than Taylor Swift. Performing for a total of six nights, the international icon is having her “The Eras Tour” at the National Stadium in March 2024.
Among the many countries where Taylor Swift is holding “The Eras Tours”, Singapore is the only South East Asian stop. This means Swifties from around the region won’t want to miss out on the chance to catch her concert that is happening from 2 to 4 March and 7 to 9 March 2024 at National Stadium. As a cherry on top, all the shows in Singapore will even feature Sabrina Carpenter as a special guest. Standard Ticket prices CAT 1 - $348, CAT 2 - $328, CAT 3 - $288. CAT 4 - $248, CAT 5 - $168 & CAT 6 -$108.
If you want to have the full Swiftie experience, you can also opt for VIP packages:
- VIP 1: It’s Been A Long Time Coming Package ($1,228)
- VIP 2: Karma Is My Boyfriend Package ($728)
- VIP 3: I Remember It All Too Well Package ($628)
- VIP 4: Ready For It Package ($528)
- VIP 5: It’s A Love Story Package ($428)
- VIP 6: We Never Go Out of Style Package ($328)
Taylor Swift lands in Singapore for her 6 sold-out Eras Tour concerts
Taylor Swift arrives at Seletar Airport on Feb 27, 2024. (Photo: CNA/Eugene Goh)
Taylor Swift arrived on Tuesday (Feb 27) for the sold-out Singapore leg of her Eras Tour. Swift arrived on chartered flight VJT993 from Sydney, Australia. The jet, a Bombardier Global 6000, touched down at Seletar Airport at about 5.05pm. Swift was shielded by umbrellas as she got off the plane.
About 40 fans had gathered at the airport, holding their phones up in the hope of catching a glimpse of Swift. There was a ripple of anticipation as Swift finally made her way to her convoy of cars at about 5.40pm. But with layers of umbrellas shielding her movements, fans were mostly denied a glimpse of the singer as she was whisked away. Singapore is Swift's only stop in Southeast Asia.
Earlier in the week, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said it provided a grant to help bring the blockbuster Eras tour to the country, in response to media queries after Thailand's prime minister said Singapore had struck an exclusive deal with Swift. STB noted that Swift's concerts were "likely to generate significant benefits" to Singapore's economy. The knock-on effects are already being felt - hotels and airlines told CNA that demand for flights and accommodation around the dates of her shows has increased up to 30 per cent.
This night is sparkling: Fans trade bracelets, parade outfits as Taylor Swift kicks off 6-show S'pore tour
Taylor Swift fans exchanging bracelets at the National Stadium prior to her concert, on March 2, 2024
Decked in their best dresses and bejewelled outfits, fans of pop sensation Taylor Swift gathered at the National Stadium as early as 8am on Saturday (March 2), eagerly anticipating the start of their idol's six-show concert in Singapore.
The atmosphere around the arena was electric when TODAY arrived at noon. Swift fans — collectively known as Swifties — were seen admiring each others' outfits, such as the "Junior Jewels" T-shirt from Swift's You Belong With Me music video, and purple dresses inspired by her Speak Now album cover. Groups of fans danced and sang along to Swift's hit songs blasting from a speaker outside the stadium as they waited for the concert gates to open at 4pm, while others took in the excitement in the air.
Hundreds also braved the rain and sun to queue up to buy her merchandise, which included t-shirts and hoodies, and cost up to S$105. Some of them told TODAY they had been in line for three hours. Groups of fans danced and sang along to Swift's hit songs blasting from a speaker outside the stadium as they waited for the concert gates to open at 4pm, while others took in the excitement in the air. Hundreds also braved the rain and sun to queue up to buy her merchandise, which included t-shirts and hoodies, and cost up to S$105. Some of them told TODAY they had been in line for three hours.
Singapore's Eras Tour deal causes bad blood with neighboring countries
Taylor Swift is halfway through the Singapore stop of her Eras Tour, performing six nights to 60,000+ fans in National Stadium, but how she landed in that particular Southeast Asian country is creating bad blood with neighboring nations.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said Singapore orchestrated an exclusive deal to pay the pop star $3 million for each of her six shows in return for making Singapore the only Eras Tour stop in the region.
Edwin Tong, a Singaporean politician and minister for culture, community and youth, said that number is “nowhere as high.” Channel News Asia is reporting the number is closer to “$2-$3 million in total for all six shows.” Considering the boost the tour offers local and national economies, it makes sense that a government grant from Singapore would have other countries begging Swift to “come back… be here.”
Taylor Swift reportedly got millions from Singapore to only perform there in Southeast Asia. Now Thai and Philippine politicians are hitting back
Taylor Swift performs during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at the National Stadium on March 2, 2024 in Singapore
Singapore said economic benefits from Taylor Swift’s concerts outweigh the incentives the city-state offered the singer to perform, amid speculation about how much it paid her to secure a Southeast Asia-exclusive performance.
“There has been some online speculation as to the size of the grant,” Edwin Tong, minister for culture, community and youth, told parliament on Monday. “It is not accurate and not anywhere as high as speculated, but due to business confidentiality reasons we cannot reveal the specific size of the grant or the conditions of the grant.” Speculation over the matter gained steam online after Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said Singapore offered subsidies of up to $3 million for each concert in exchange for Swift agreeing not to perform elsewhere in the region during her Eras tour.
Channel News Asia reported last week that the figure was closer to $2-$3 million in total for all six shows without specifying where it got the information from. The economic benefits to Singapore including additional tourist arrivals and spending on entertainment and retail in the island nation are “significant” and outweigh the size of the grant, Tong said.
Those who leaked confidential info about S’pore’s Taylor Swift deal could be dealt with: Edwin Tong
The Singapore government is considering taking action against individuals who leaked what was supposed to be confidential details in Singapore's Taylor Swift deal, Edwin Tong said in Parliament on Mar. 4, 2024. Tong, the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, said this in response to Nominated Member of Parliament Usha Chandradas who brought up the recent discussion about Singapore's supposed exclusivity deal with American pop star Swift.
Noting that the discussion about Singapore's deal with Swift has "struck a nerve" with some of Singapore’s neighbours, Chandradas wanted to know if there was a confidentiality clause in Swift's contract with Singapore, and if so, whether the government will take action against those who breached it. Tong replied that there was a confidentiality clause included in the contract for Swift's shows in Singapore. It is for this same reason — business confidentiality — that the government cannot reveal the exact figure of the grant given, Tong said in Parliament on Mar. 4. However, he emphasised once more that the actual size of the grant is "not anywhere as high as speculated", and that the economic benefits to Singapore "are assessed to be significant and outweigh the size of the grant".
CNA reported that it understood the figure is closer to between US$2 million to US$3 million, or S$2.6 million to S$4 million, in total for all six shows. On whether the government is taking action against those who breached the confidentiality clause in Swift's contract with Singapore, Tong said they will assess the terms of the contract and will take "appropriate measures under advisement". Thai prime minister Srettha Thavisin claimed on Feb. 16 that the Singapore government had offered Swift up to S$4 million (US$3 million) in subsidies for each of her six concerts in Singapore, if she agreed not to perform elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Srettha said he heard this from the global concert promoter Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) on Feb. 12. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) cleared the air in a joint statement on Feb. 20 and said Swift’s shows in Singapore are supported through a grant but did not mention its amount. Referring to Srettha's claim about Singapore's supposed deal with Swift, Joey Salceda, a Filipino lawmaker, criticised Singapore on Feb. 28, claiming that in doing so Singapore had "hurt" the Philippines and that is not "what good neighbours do", among others. Tong revealed to Mothership on Feb. 28 that the actual size of the grant is "not what is being speculated online".
Taylor Swift concerts' economic benefits to outweigh grant size, as Singapore considers action over leaked info: Edwin Tong
The economic benefits expected from the ongoing Taylor Swift Eras Tour concerts in Singapore outweigh the size of the grant provided to the concert promoter by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), said Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong in Parliament on Monday (4 March).
Addressing questions from Members of Parliament on the estimated economic returns and the value of the pop superstar's six concerts at the National Stadium, Tong said the size of the grant was nowhere as high as what was speculated online. "Due to business confidentiality, we cannot reveal the specific size and conditions of the grant. I can assure members of the House that the economic benefits to Singapore are assessed to be significant and outweigh the size of the grant," he added. The issue surrounding grants offered to Taylor Swift's concerts has stirred up unhappiness among lawmakersin neighbouring countries like Thailand and the Philippines.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin revealed that the Singapore Government allegedly provided subsidies of up to US$3 million (S$4 million) for each concert on The Eras Tour, contingent upon Swift not performing elsewhere in Southeast Asia during that time. However, CNA reported that the figure is instead closer to US$2 million to US$3 million in total for all six concerts, not US$3 million for each.
Taylor Swift reveals mum grew up in S'pore
Taylor Swift is in Singapore for her "The Eras" tour in Asia. She kickstarted her first concert at the National Stadium on Mar. 2, as part of her six sold-out shows here. Swift played hits like "Cruel Summer", "Lover", and "Fearless".
At one point in between performing songs "marjorie" and "champagne problems", she addressed the crowd who had put up their phones when "marjorie" was played. Swift revealed that the song "marjorie" is about her maternal grandmother and that her mother used to grow up in Singapore. "My mum actually spent a lot of her childhood with her mum, dad, and sister growing up in Singapore," she said.
She said her mother would take her on a drive and they would pass by the latter's old house and school, each time they were in Singapore on a tour. She added that she had heard a lot about Singapore throughout her life and expressed her appreciation for concertgoers who had paid special attention during the song.
Taylor Swift’s Singapore links get deeper with 1960s yearbook photos
Mrs Andrea Swift, singer Taylor Swift's mother, is widely applauded as a brilliant "momager" who helped propel her daughter to superstardom. PHOTO: AFP
American superstar Taylor Swift’s mother Andrea spent her childhood in Singapore and was a student at the Singapore American School. The international school told The Straits Times that Mrs Swift, now 66, studied at its King’s Road campus between 1968 and 1969.
A yearbook photograph seen by ST shows 10-year-old Andrea Finlay – Mrs Swift’s maiden name – seated in the front row of her fourth-grade class in 1968. She is also seen in a picture of her fifth-grade class in the 1969 yearbook. Mrs Swift is widely applauded as a brilliant “momager” – a portmanteau of mother and manager – who played a big part in using her marketing smarts to help propel her daughter to superstardom. There has been keen interest in Swift’s maternal lineage after the 34-year-old told fans during her March 2 concert at the National Stadium that her mother spent a lot of her childhood in Singapore with her parents and sister.
“A lot of the time when we came here on tour, my mum would take me and drive me past her old house and where she used to go to school. So, I’ve been hearing about Singapore my whole life,” the singer said after performing Marjorie, an emotional track inspired by her maternal grandmother Marjorie Finlay, who died in 2003. Taylor Swift had told ST in a 2010 interview that her maternal grandfather Robert Finlay moved his family here for a few years while working in an engineering company. According to a 1968 ST report, her grandmother Marjorie, an opera singer, was chosen to play the part of a peasant girl in a production at the Victoria Theatre. “Marjorie Finlay made a delightful Marenka,” said an ST review of the production.
Taylor Swift's special Singapore connection: Her mum and grandparents used to live here
It appears there’s an invisible string that ties megastar Taylor Swift to the little red dot. The Grammy Award-winning singer kicked off the first of six sold-out concerts for the Singapore leg of The Eras Tour on Saturday (Mar 2).
If you were there or had read reviews of the first night's show, you would know that after she sang Marjorie from her album Evermore, she related the story of her mother Andrea growing up in Singapore together with Swift's grandmother, the titular Marjorie. While the Anti-Hero singer has brought up her Singapore connection in past interviews, more information has now been unearthed. Widely considered to be one of her more poignant tracks, Marjorie is a tribute to Swift's late maternal grandmother, opera singer Marjorie Finlay, who died in 2003. Besides featuring bits of advice Finlay gave to Swift, the song also incorporates samples of Finlay's operatic vocals.
Swift said: “I’ve been hearing about Singapore all my life. To get to come here and play a show this big… it means the world. “A lot of the time when we came here on tour, my mum would take me and drive me past her old house and where she used to go to school…" Marjorie Finlay moved to Singapore with her husband Robert for his work in an engineering company, according to a 2010 Straits Times story.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Her reinventive artistry, songwriting and entrepreneurship have influenced the music industry, popular culture, and politics, while her life is a subject of widespread media coverage.
Swift began professional songwriting at 14. She signed with Big Machine Records in 2005 and achieved prominence as a country pop singer with the albums Taylor Swift (2006) and Fearless (2008). The singles "Teardrops on My Guitar", "Love Story", and "You Belong with Me" were crossover successes on country and pop radio formats and brought Swift mainstream fame. She experimented with rock and electronic styles on her next albums, Speak Now (2010) and Red (2012), respectively, with the latter featuring her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together". Swift recalibrated her image from country to pop with 1989 (2014), a synth-pop album supported by the chart-topping songs "Shake It Off", "Blank Space", and "Bad Blood". Media scrutiny inspired the hip-hop-influenced Reputation (2017) and its number-one single "Look What You Made Me Do". After signing with Republic Records in 2018, Swift released the eclectic pop album Lover (2019) and the autobiographical documentary Miss Americana (2020). She explored indie folk styles on the 2020 albums Folklore and Evermore, subdued electropop on Midnights (2022), and re-recorded four albums subtitled Taylor's Version[a] after a dispute with Big Machine. These albums spawned the number-one songs "Cruel Summer", "Cardigan", "Willow", "Anti-Hero", "All Too Well", and "Is It Over Now?". Her Eras Tour (2023–2024) and its accompanying concert film became the highest-grossing tour and concert film of all time, respectively. Swift has directed videos and films such as Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (2020) and All Too Well: The Short Film (2021).
One of the world's best-selling musicians, Swift has sold over 200 million records as of 2019. She is the highest-grossing female touring act, the most-streamed woman on Spotify and Apple Music, and the first billionaire with music as the main source of income. Six of her albums have opened with over one million sales in a week. The 2023 Time Person of the Year, Swift has appeared on lists such as Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time, Billboard's Greatest of All Time Artists, and Forbes' World's 100 Most Powerful Women. Her accolades include 14 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, 40 American Music Awards, 40 Billboard Music Awards, and 23 MTV Video Music Awards; she has won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, the MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year, and the IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year for a record four times each.
30 things you didn’t know about Taylor Swift
For years, Taylor Swift has been breaking records in the music industry and winning awards for her singing and songwriting talents. One of the world's best-selling musicians, T-Swift has sold over 200 million records, and she's also the artist with the highest-grossing tour of all time. But although you might know the words to all of her hit songs and the details of her impressive dating history, there are still a few things you may not know about the country-turned-pop singer. Curious? Click on for some interesting things you may not know about Taylor Swift:
- She grew up on a Christmas tree farm
- Her middle name is Alison
- She's named after James Taylor
- She learned to play guitar on a 12-string
- Music runs in her family
- She has a brother named Austin
- She's the youngest person to get a songwriting deal at Nashville's Sony/ATV Music Publishing
- She framed a photo of the infamous Kanye West VMAs scandal
- The quickest and longest songs she wrote
- She has an impressive real estate portfolio
- Blake Lively's daughter, James, is featured and credited in one of her songs
- Some of her lyrics are things she's wanted to text people in real life
- She has film and television credits on her CV too
- She's the youngest Grammy winner for Album of the Year
- She wouldn't allow her music to stream on Spotify
- Swift owns three cats
- She wrote and sang 'Our Song' for her ninth-grade talent show
- After her concerts, she sometimes watches 'Friends'
- She's got her go-to drive-thru order down
- She's the reason GoFundMe increased its donation limit
- She has a doctorate
- 'Reputation' is the first album on which she uses a curse word
- She rode horses as a kid
- She's written a lot of songs for other artists
- She wrote every song on her third album, 'Speak Now'
- 13 is her lucky number
- She's into American history
- She wrote a book when she was a teenager
- She was a bridesmaid in her best friend Abigail's wedding
- 'Kiss Me' was the first song she learned to play on guitar
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