Local, cultural impacts of Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour
Local, cultural impacts of Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour
From the economy to the music industry, Swift is dominating U.S. culture.
In March, Taylor Swift kicked off what is predicted to be the highest-grossing tour of all time: The Eras Tour. The tour takes fans through every “era” of Swift’s 17-year music career. Over the past eight months, Swift has taken the tour all over the U.S. Many were able to attend, including Bethel seniors Schyler Entz and Hayden Honomichl.
“It was amazing to scream every lyric,” said Honomichl from Great Bend. Entz of Newton described the experience as “girlhood,” which was “thriving and showing out with everyone dressing up… dancing.”
Due to ticket reseller complications and high demand, many fans of Swift were unable to attend. Despite this, record sales numbers for the tour have helped boost the economy in post-COVID America, according to Time Magazine.
“She’s done lots of good and uses her fame for a positive,” said Entz.
Over her career, Swift has remained humble in the face of incredible fame and treats her employees and colleagues with respect and equity. For example, Rolling Stone shared that at the end of the U.S. leg of The Eras Tour, Swift gave her dancers, sound technicians, riggers, and truck drivers bonuses totaling $55 million.
On Aug. 31, Swift announced that The Eras Tour had been filmed and would be released in theaters Oct. 13. Across the country, movie theaters sold out shows for opening weekend. The film shot to the number one slot for the top box office weekend of a concert film.
While creating the film, it was important to Swift to support the picket lines from the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. This meant releasing straight to streaming platforms, like her previous concert films, was out of the question. After talks with SAG-AFTRA, Swift came to an agreement with AMC Theaters to release The Eras Tour Film through the box office.
“It was unreal to see the close-up shots and reflect on the concert I saw,” said Honomichl, who attended the concert film.
While online discourse wondered why seeing a film of a concert is worth the twenty-dollar plus ticket, Entz noted that Swift “KNOWS how to perform.” That made the battle for concert tickets and the price of movie tickets well worth it.
“Her music creates a community,” concluded Entz. The opportunity for fans like Entz to listen to her music from adolescence to adulthood and now share that love with new generations “feels full circle in the best way.”
The Eras Tour Film concluded its time at the box office on Sunday, Nov. 5. However, the film may be released on streaming platforms, like Swift’s previous concert films, after January. This release will depend on the status of the SAG-AFTRA strike. Until then, fans can follow the tour online as it continues in Argentina on Nov. 9 and returns to the U.S. next fall.