Taylor Swift: Economic and Musical Powerhouse

Sidney Caldwell ‘26

Staff Writer 

Taylor Swift has always been a world-renowned artist, but this year especially, she has been proving that title. Over the last year, Taylor Swift has made over $4 Billion dollars on the success of her Eras Tour. Swift has broken several records with new albums being released, the Eras Tour, and the Eras Tour movie. The Eras Tour movie was the highest-grossing concert movie of all time, making $123 million opening weekend. The Eras Tour has also broken records with sales when over 3.5 million people registered to get tickets to the tour. 

Swift's massive fan base means getting tickets is very competitive therefore they drive tickets to become more expensive. The supply tends to become limited when you have that many fans which means the demand for tickets is very high. This resulted in fans not being able to experience the tour, which led to the creation of the “Eras Tour Movie”. The movie was a massive undertaking, involving a dedicated team of filmmakers and crew. They worked very hard to capture every moment of the tour from the high-energy performances, to the emotional intimate performances, and special connections with fans.  

Another thing people may not realize is the Eras Tour and Eras Tour Movie actually boosts the economy. When Swift travels to different cities around America and different countries in the world the economy is positively benefited. The influx of fans leads to increased tourism, benefiting local businesses and boosting the economy. A Teacher at Cape Mrs. Atkins states, “That is significant. And when people travel to see her in these various cities, they are not only spending on merch, tickets, and music, but also restaurants, hotels, and tourism.” The concerts also create job opportunities for event staff, security, and vendors. It’s amazing how an artist could have that much of a positive impact on economies all around the world.

Mrs. Atkins also talks about how with the post-pandemic economy and high inflation, people have been willing to spend more than necessary. She states, “None of that mattered though when Taylor Swift announced the Eras Tour, and then the concert film. People want to feel good things and it's my assessment that despite the poor economy and world affairs, for many people the benefits of attending these events outweighed the costs. I recently read that the average cost for Swifties who attended the Eras Tour was around $1,300.” 

“Taylor’s Version” albums were created for Swift to regain control over her music by re-recording all of her original songs. Since she now owns and controls the rights to her music, she is able to benefit financially from the sales and streaming of these albums. This works because fans stay loyal to her by choosing to only listen to “Taylor’s Versions” of songs. Student Mya Disabatino says “It’s putting more money into Taylor’s bank account, not Scooter Braun's. Since he’s not the brains behind the lyrics, I’m not going to contribute to his potential success with something that isn’t his.” Additionally the merchandise for “Taylor’s Version” has also played a crucial role in boosting sales even further. Fans show dedication and support by wearing the t-shirts, hoodies, etc. she has to offer. Not only does it allow fans to express their love for her but also helps contribute to the overall sales revenue. The re-recordings and the accompanying merch have created such a successful new market for her music. Overall, Taylor Swift has undeniably made a huge impact on the music industry but also the economy.