Swift has built herself as an economic phenomenon, selling everything from concert T-shirts to NFL tickets.
The world premiere of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in Los Angeles on Wednesday was no exception, complete with not only a red carpet, but also road barricades.
The event’s details were kept under wraps, with select fans receiving invitation-only tickets for opening night via Spotify.
The venue, a 14-screen theater in a posh shopping center in Hollywood, was totally closed to accommodate the crowds.
It was still unclear whether Swift would attend with hours to go, but fans erupted when the star showed only moments before the action began.
The film, which was shot over three concerts in Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium in August, has already broken records, earning more than $100 million (£81.2 million) in advance global ticket sales, and industry analysts expect the film to break new box office records despite having fewer showings.
Unlike most films, the concert film will only be shown in theaters on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Why?
Because Team Swift only wants large crowds to see the video, almost as if it were a live concert. They don’t want half-empty theaters on a solitary weekday afternoon.
It’s all classic Taylor, even down to the ticket costs.
Swift is well-known for dropping “Easter Eggs,” or small clues that only her admirers will notice. Ticket costs to movies are no exception. Tickets are $19.89 before taxes for adults, a tribute to her album title and the year she was born, and $13.13 for youngsters, 13 being her lucky number.
On Wednesday, security was exceptionally strict, with repeated ID and ticket checks, metal detectors, and bag inspections. Swift fans with their tickets in hand had a long wait.
It didn’t worry them.
“I’m so excited to be here right now,” Kate McGovern, 21, gushed. She told the BBC that she had taken the day off from job and study to travel over three hours to Los Angeles.
“I’m completely overwhelmed right now.” I’m shaking a little and feeling a little anxious. My stomach aches, but in the greatest manner possible. I have absolutely no plans for tonight. “I’m just overjoyed.”
Caroline Schneider, a Los Angeles native, discovered she had won tickets only on Monday.
“I can’t believe this is happening, because it’s also so unusual for music artists to release a concert film in this way, in this fashion,” she said in an interview with the BBC. “And then to have an event like this where only hundreds of fans are invited to come back and enjoy the concert with each other is really cool.” Right?”
Swift’s popularity is practically unique, even in the music industry, which is accustomed to generating adoration for its top artists.
“She represents the new mega star,” says Sanjay Sharma, an associate professor of business at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. “She’s not only a successful artist with a huge global following, she’s also a very smart businesswoman.”
So much so that the economic juggernaut that descends on town when Taylor Swift performs has its own moniker: “Taylornomics.”
Why do Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Harry Styles fans dress up?
Mr Sharma reckons that Swift’s six appearances in Los Angeles boosted the GDP by 1-2%.
This is due to the fact that Taylor Swift visitors are not simply purchasing a concert ticket. There are plane tickets, hotel accommodations, restaurant meals, and clothing to purchase. Local businesses are capitalizing on the trend by offering Taylor-focused events such as pop-up bars and karaoke nights, to name a few.
However, the tour and film’s popularity is entirely due to her music and a devoted fan following.
“She has a crowd of people who didn’t get tickets. “And then she’s got an audience of people who did get tickets and want to relive it,” said Elizabeth Scala, a Swift professor at the University of Texas at Austin.
“And I believe that’s who will see the film.” I don’t think anyone is going to see the movie out of curiosity.”
The over three-hour-long picture could easily become the highest-grossing film of 2023. Even more than Barbie, which has been the year’s top film.
Taylormania, as Taylor’s admirers are well aware, might last indefinitely. The ultimate purpose for the throngs of admirers who traveled to Los Angeles on Wednesday was to catch a short sight of their hero.
