Why Swift’s absence has left local fans and officials singing the blues

March 20, 2024

JAKARTA – Taylor Swift is one of the biggest pop stars today. Her impact reaches far beyond the bounds of chart-topping hits, breaking music records and exceptional songwriting skills.

Her tours, in particular, are not just entertainment spectacles; they serve as economic powerhouses, injecting vitality into local economies wherever she performs.

With each visit, Swift not only mesmerizes fans with her music and storytelling but also fuels economic growth, making her a mastermind both on and off the stage. The profound economic boost she brings wherever she goes has even been named “Swiftonomics”.

Her loyal fandom, called Swifties, is spread all over the world and has come together from diverse cultures and backgrounds in a shared love for her music, story and persona. Her remarkable influence stems from her ability to tell captivating stories that resonate deeply with her audience, drawing them into her world.

Through her songs and lyrics, she creates a sense of belonging, making fans feel intimately connected to her life experiences. As a result, her fans not only enjoy her music but also feel like they are part of her journey.

Swift is on a world tour from Aug. 24, 2023 to Dec. 8, 2024 (https://www.taylorswift.com/tour/). Her only stop in Southeast Asia is Singapore, which skyrocketed the demand for tickets across the entire region and resulted in six sold-out shows, with an audience capacity of 55,000 people per show.

Singapore estimated to reap US$500 million in returns from the concerts. But its desire to monopolize the show, by giving her an incentive of US$3 million per show, has caused bad blood among its neighbors in the region.

Indonesia, especially Jakarta, is home to the largest number of