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Taylor Swift's Eras Tour was a billion-dollar success that set a new bar for pop stars. Not even she can reach it again.

9 December 2024 at 15:30
Taylor Swift takes a bow while performing at the Eras Tour.
Taylor Swift takes a bow while performing at the Eras Tour.

Emma McIntyre/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

  • Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concluded on Sunday in Vancouver.
  • The tour was an unprecedented financial success, becoming the first to gross over $2 billion.
  • It was a spectacle of endurance and nostalgia that will be difficult for any artist to replicate, Swift included.

Twenty-one months, 149 shows, and about 484 hours of singing and dancing later, Taylor Swift took her final bow on the Eras Tour on Sunday.

"You guys have made this into something completely unrecognizable from anything I've ever done in my life," Swift told the crowd in Vancouver. "With your traditions, with your passion, with the way you care about this tour β€” it's unparalleled. I've never experienced anything like it."

The Eras Tour has been widely celebrated as a cultural phenomenon and money-making marvel. Swift's tour boosted local economies across the globe, from the US to the UK to Singapore. Fans shelled out thousands to see their idol perform a marathon of hits from across her catalog (plus a few surprise deep cuts), a spectacle that stretched for over three hours every night. At the end of it all, the Eras Tour became the first tour in history to gross over $2 billion, Swift's production company confirmed to The New York Times.

But while all that may be true, there's reason to believe not even Swift's commercial juggernaut has the power to forever alter the touring landscape. The Eras Tour will go down in history as a high watermark for the industry, one it will be difficult for any artist to reach again β€” Swift included.

Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour.
Taylor Swift's eighth album "Folklore" explores young love from alternating perspectives.

Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

As a literal billionaire, Swift's Eras Tour set a standard that's impossible for most artists to meet. In an industry where you have to spend money to make money, the majority of performers who aren't global superstars don't have that much money to spend. In fact, the costs of touring are so high that even major acts like Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and The Black Keys are canceling dates or entire tours.

By contrast, Swift has devoted nearly two decades to building her loyal consumer base and billion-dollar fortune. She's one of a the few stars who's perfectly capable of traveling the world, employing a crew of hundreds, and bringing her elaborate stagecraft to life without worrying about the upfront costs.

Yet even those who do have the resources don't necessarily have a desire to mount a tour as intensive as Swift's. Billie Eilish, who broke Swift's own record as the youngest artist in history to win album of the year at the Grammys in 2020, is now three albums deep and currently touring in support of "Hit Me Hard and Soft," which also garnered critical acclaim.

In Swiftian terms, that puts Eilish in her "Speak Now" era, riding a similar wave toward success. Seven or eight albums down the road, would she be able to stage a three-and-a-half-hour retrospective of her career, a feat that requires months of intensive cardio and dance training? Probably. Would she want to? Probably not.

"I'm not doing a three-hour show, that's literally psychotic," Eilish told fans in May, per Billboard. "Nobody wants that. You guys don't want that. I don't want that. I don't even want that as a fan. My favorite artist in the world, I'm not trying to hear them for three hours. That's far too long."

For many artists, it probably is. But Swift is a rare breed. Pulling off the Eras Tour demanded a special blend of ambition, financial freedom, physical endurance, fan worship, mass commercial appeal, and, let's be honest, self-congratulatory bravado that, at least at this time in music history, is unique to Swift alone.

In "The Eras Tour" concert film, Swift admitted that people were initially skeptical about the concept β€” but she's accomplished, wealthy, beloved, and stubborn enough that she could ignore her doubters.

Taylor Swift with a young fan at the Eras Tour in Hamburg, Germany.
Swift's performance style relies on her connection with fans.

Gregor Fischer/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

The eras theme was also particularly smart positioning for Swift at this moment in her career. After Swift's former label sold her catalog without her permission in 2019, she began rerecording and rereleasing her first six albums, a project that asked fans to rekindle their love for her old music β€” and their old selves.

Two of these rerecorded albums, "Fearless" and "Red", were unveiled ahead of the Eras Tour, while two more, "Speak Now" and "1989," were announced by Swift onstage. The two endeavors worked in conjunction to legitimize each other, infusing fresh tunes into the tour's acoustic sets and giving Swifties the feeling that no matter how deep Swift was into the nearly two-year length of her tour when they saw her perform, she was still fresh off of a new release.

Swift signed a new label contract ahead of "Lover," so she owns outright every album she's released since then. Once she has released the final two installments of the "Taylor's Version" series, ("Reputation" and "Taylor Swift") the "Taylor's Version" project will be over. Similarly, the specific conditions that allowed the Eras Tour to flourish will never recur.

Of course, Swifties still have plenty to look forward to. She is famously prolific, so another brand-new album in the coming years isn't out of the question.

But even if Swift could release another 11 albums and, in another 18 years, launch the Eras Tour Part Two, would she want to? All signs point to no.

"I'll never forget the call when I explained my idea of the concept for the Eras Tour to my team. At the time, I was working on the 'Midnights' album and if we were to do what I've always done, I would've embarked on planning the Midnights Tour," Swift wrote in her new photo book.

"But there's nothing I hate more than doing what I've always done."

Read the original article on Business Insider

Taylor Swift reached billionaire status thanks to her showstopping Eras Tour — see how the pop star makes and spends her fortune

9 December 2024 at 10:17
Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour in Liverpool, England.
Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour in Liverpool, England.

Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

  • Taylor Swift's net worth is $1.1 billion, Bloomberg News reported and Forbes confirmed.
  • The pop star is a prolific songwriter who's amassed a significant fortune throughout her career.
  • Here's how Swift earns and spends her fortune, from real estate to charitable donations.

Taylor Swift never fails to impress.

At 15 years old, she was the youngest songwriter to ever sign with Sony. She now has 14 Grammys on her shelf β€” including four for album of the year, the most of any artist in history β€” several tours under her belt, 11 studio albums, a long list of chart-topping songs, and a beloved fan base who dub themselves "Swifties."

Such success makes Swift one of the world's highest-paid celebrities and one of the richest female singers. According to aΒ Bloomberg News analysis published on the eve of her "1989" album rerelease, Swift has officially built a billion-dollar empire.

Forbes later confirmed her $1.1 billion net worth, citing in part her massive Eras Tour and its subsequent concert movie.

Swift has been strategic and generous with her money, investing in a sprawling $84 million real-estate portfolio and often donating to causes she supports.

See how Swift earns and spends her fortune below.

Hillary Hoffower,Β Libby Torres, and Taylor Nicole Rogers contributed to a previous version of this article.

Taylor Swift has an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion.
Taylor Swift attends the "All Too Well" New York Premiere on November 12, 2021 in New York City.
Taylor Swift's "All Too Well" won best music video at the 2023 Grammys.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

According to Forbes, which published a series of 2024 billionaire reports on Tuesday, Swift is the first musician to reach 10-figure status solely based on songwriting and performing (rather than brand deals or business ventures).

Swift's vast fortune is primarily thanks to her valuable discography and earnings from streaming deals, music sales, concert tickets, and merchandise.

Representatives for Swift did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment regarding the Forbes report.

The pop star's record-breaking Eras Tour, which began in March 2023, propelled the singer to billionaire status.
taylor swift eras tour nashville
Taylor Swift performs "Reputation" at the Eras Tour.

John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Swift's 21-month, five-continent Eras Tour was nothing short of a sensation. By the end of its first year, it had become the first tour ever to gross over $1 billion in revenue, on track to become the highest-grossing tour of all time.Β 

In October 2023, after Swift toured 56 dates across the US and Mexico, the Eras Tour had already generated $780 million andΒ added $4.3 billion to America's gross domestic product, according to Bloomberg Economics.

Throughout 2024, Swift also made stops in Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Canada, and 11 countries throughout Europe.

By the end of its run, the Eras Tour had grossed over $2 billion.
Taylor Swift performs at the Eras Tour.
Taylor Swift performs "Folklore" at the Eras Tour.

Folklore Emma McIntyre/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

The morning of Swift's final performance in Vancouver, The New York Times reported that the Eras Tour had crossed the $2 billion threshold, making it the first concert tour in history to do so.

This figure was confirmed by Taylor Swift Touring, the singer's production company. All 149 stadium shows were sold out, and the company said over 10 billion people attended the Eras Tour.

That means the average ticket sold for $204, well above the industry average for top concert tours, per The New York Times. Resale tickets were even pricier, often going for thousands of dollars in secondhand markets. (Artists like Swift don't earn anything from resold tickets.)

The movie version of the tour broke box-office records before it was even released. It grossed more than $261 million worldwide.
taylor swift eras tour movie premiere
"Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" premiered in theaters in October 2023.

Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

Worldwide ticket presales had already exceeded $100 million before "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" was released (a day early) on October 12, 2023, AMC Theatres reported.

According to ticketing service Fandango, the film set a record for the highest first-day ticket sales in 2023. It has also become the highest-grossing concert movie of all time, surpassing "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."

Swift, who bypassed movie studios to personally fund the concert movie, received half of the box office earnings for the film, which grossed $261 million worldwide.

Swift cashed in on her blockbuster Eras Tour movie again by selling the streaming rights to Disney for more than $75 million.
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023.
Disney+ bought the exclusive rights to stream "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour."

Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Once "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" had left theaters, Swift struck a deal with Disney+ to release the film's extended version on streaming.

According to Puck News, Disney paid upwards of $75 million for the exclusive rights.

Citing anonymous sources, the outlet reported that Disney's Bob Iger outbid Netflix and Universal Pictures (which handled VOD distribution for the film in December) for the streaming rights by offering a huge sum, which the other two streamers couldn't match.

Swift also released an Eras Tour photo book, which sold over 800,000 copies in its first weekend.
Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour" book for sale at Target.
"The Eras Tour Book" was sold for $39.99 at Target.

Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images

Shortly before the Eras Tour concluded, Swift released a photo book for Black Friday.

As she did with the Eras Tour film, Swift circumvented traditional routes and opted to self-publish instead, ensuring she would get more of the book's revenue.

The book was exclusively available at Target and sold hundreds of thousands of copies in its first weekend, becoming the second-best-selling non-fiction title after Barack Obama's presidential memoir.

Swift has endorsement deals and partnerships with high-profile brands.
Taylor Swift's 2022 Capitol One commercial.
Taylor Swift starred in a 2022 commercial for Capital One.

Capital One/YouTube

These partnerships include Capital One, AT&T, Stella McCartney, Elizabeth Arden perfumes, American Express, Keds, Diet Coke, Walmart, and Apple.

But touring has long been Swift's biggest money maker. The 1989 World Tour grossed more than $250 million in 2015.
taylor swift 1989 tour
"1989" won album of the year at the 2016 Grammys.

Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

That figure is according to the Los Angeles Times.

She earned even more during her Reputation Stadium Tour in 2018.
taylor swift reputation tour
"Reputation" sold over 1 million copies in its debut week.

Alexander Tamargo/TAS18/Getty Images for TAS

At the time, the Reputation Stadium Tour broke the record for the highest-grossing US tour ever, according to Billboard. Swift earned an average of $7 million per show, more than double the US per-concert average during the "1989" tour.

But her tours don't just bring in ticket sales. Swift also makes a huge sum of money from merch.
taylor swift merch eras tour fans
Taylor Swift fans buy merch at an Eras Tour stop in Melbourne, Australia.

Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

In April 2023, Forbes estimated that Swift's coveted on-site merchandise β€” which she sells at an average price of $80 β€”could add an estimated $87 million in proceeds to her fortune.

Swift's latest album, "The Tortured Poets Department," sold millions of copies in a matter of weeks.
Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour.
Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour.

Shirlaine Forrest/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Swift's 11th studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department," was released on April 19, 2024. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 withΒ 2.61 million equivalent album units soldΒ in its first week.

This sum was thanks to huge streaming totals and physical album sales,Β especially vinyl, which Swift sells more successfully than anyone else. According to a Billboard report from November 2023,Β one in every 15 vinyl albums sold in the USΒ is one of Swift's.

Fans continued to buy and stream "Poets" throughout the year,Β sending it to No. 1 for 16 weeks total, the most of any album in 2024.

On November 30, 2024, "Poets" was certified 6x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, meaning it has sold at least 6 million copies in the US.

Swift amassed an estimated $230 million in record sales following the release of her 2022 album "Midnights."
Taylor Swift Midnights artwork
"Midnights" won album of the year at the 2024 Grammys.

Beth Garrabrant

According to The Guardian, Swift's massive album sales for "Midnights" brought in $230 million for Swift's label Universal.Β 

With more than 1.5 million equivalent album units earned in the US in its first week, "Midnights" landed the biggest week for an album in seven years (since Swift's own album "Reputation").

Swift made $52 million in 2021 after rerecording earlier work that was acquired (and then sold) by Scooter Braun.
Taylor Swift Red (Taylor's Version)
"Red (Taylor's Version)" won top country album at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.

Taylor Swift/UMG

Swift embarked on a mission to rerecord her first six albums after Scooter Braun, whom she accused of "incessant, manipulative bullying," purchased the legal rights to her back catalog in 2019. (He later sold the master recordings to a private-equity company.)

She released the first installment in the series, "Fearless (Taylor's Version)," in 2021. It debuted atop the Billboard 200 β€” indicating this would be a lucrative venture for Swift. Later that year, Swift's new version of "Red" became one of the year's top-selling albums.

The two rerecorded albums helped plant Swift on the "The Highest-Paid Entertainers 2022" report from Forbes.

She has since released "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" and "1989 (Taylor's Version)." The latter sold over 1.6 million equivalent units in its first week, surpassing the original's total.

In fact, Swift is the only artist who's sold over 1 million copies of an album in one week since Adele released "30" in November 2015. In that window, Swift has achieved the feat four different times.

Swift has amassed an impressive fortune β€” and she knows how to spend it. Her real-estate portfolio is worth a reported $150 million.
Taylor Swift attends the 2018 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on October 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
Taylor Swift owns several homes and a private jet.

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

In Nashville, she owns a 3,240-square-foot condo worth an estimated $3 million and a 5,600-square-foot Greek Revival estate worth an estimated $2.5 million.
taylor swift cowboy boots CMA Music Festival 2007
Taylor Swift moved to Nashville as a teenager.

Rusty Russell/Getty Images

The latter is the cheapest property she owns.

In LA, Swift owns a 10,982-square-foot Beverly Hills mansion worth nearly $30 million.
taylor swift brother austin swift
Austin and Taylor Swift attend the 2013 Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Christopher Polk/NBC

In 2017, she was trying to turn it into a historic landmark, according to Teen Vogue.

Across the coast, Swift owns an estate with seaside views in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, for which she reportedly paid $17.75 million.
taylor swift watch hill mansion
The Rhode Island mansion was previously owned by Rebekah Harkness.

Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

With 12,000 square feet, it has plenty of room for parties and even inspired her song "The Last Great American Dynasty."

But that's nothing compared to the estimated $40 million worth of property Swift owns in New York City on the same block in Tribeca.
taylor swift street style 2018
Taylor Swift outside her Tribeca apartment in 2018.

TheStewartofNY/GC Images

That includes an 8,309-square-foot duplex penthouse and a four-story townhouse.

She used to rent an apartment on Cornelia Street β€” the famous inspiration behind her "Lover" track "Cornelia Street" β€” which was listed in 2023 with a $17.9 million price tag.

Swift needs a way to travel among all these homes. She reportedly owns a Dassault private jet.
taylor swift
Taylor Swift has not publicly addressed her private jet usage.

Andrew H. Walker/Getty

The Dassault 7X is registered to Island Jet Inc., a holding company listed under the same address as Taylor Swift Productions, Business Insider previously reported.

She used to have two private jets, but quietly sold one amid criticism of her carbon footprint. ("Taylor's jet is loaned out regularly to other individuals,"Β a rep for Swift said in a statement. "To attribute most or all of these trips to her is blatantly incorrect.")

There's no word on how much she paid for these vehicles, but a brand new Dassault 900 has a list price of $44 million, according to Business Jet Traveler. Elon Musk owns a similar model that cost about $26 million.

Swift often spends money dining out with her friends and romantic partners, especially when in New York City.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce leave Waverly Inn in New York City on Sunday.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce photographed after dining in New York City.

Gotham/Getty Images

In the past, she's been spotted at The Fat Radish, The Spotted Pig, Sarabeth's, L'Asso, Nobu, and Vita Carota.

But Swift has always been generous with her money, supporting causes and helping those in need.
taylor swift nashville symphony donation
Taylor Swift and Alan Valentine at the 2011 Nashville Symphony Ball.

Royce DeGrie/Getty Images

On her 24th birthday, she donated $100,000 to the Nashville Symphony, according to People.

Swift pledged $4 million to the Country Music Hall of Fame to fund an education center.
taylor swift education center
The Taylor Swift Education Center officially opened in 2013.

Royce DeGrie/TAS/Getty Images for TAS

Her commitment to education doesn't stop with music; Swift also donated $50,000 to NYC public schools, People reported.

She has donated millions to support victims of natural disasters.
taylor swift iheart radio awards 2016
Taylor Swift announced her donation to Louisiana flood victims in 2016.

David Buchan/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images

In 2010, Swift donated $500,000 to Nashville flood reliefΒ and in 2016, she donated $1 million to the victims of Louisiana floods.

Swift also raised $750,000 through a Speak Now Help Now benefit concert for victims of tornadoes in the southern US in 2011, according to People.

Most recently, Swift donated $5 million to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.

In 2020, Swift gave $50,000 to a mother of five who lost her husband to COVID-19 days before Christmas.
Taylor Swift with fans in 2019.
Taylor Swift with fans at the 2019 premiere of "Cats."

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

She and her mom Andrea Swift quietly made the donation, according to USA Today.

She also gifted $13,000 each to two moms who were also struggling financially because of the pandemic.

Swift has made several generous donations to LGBTQ+ organizations.
taylor swift stonewall inn
Taylor Swift performs at the Stonewall Inn during Pride Month in 2019.

Craig Barritt/Getty Images for AEG

Swift has long been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, threading references to the fight for equal rights into songs like "Welcome to New York" and "You Need to Calm Down."

Back in 2016, Swift participated in a charity auction to help keep the historic Stonewall Inn operational. The New York City gay bar was the scene of a police raid in 1969, sparking a riot that helped launch the nationwide fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

In more recent years, Swift has made generous donations to the Tennessee Equality Project and GLAAD, in addition to her vocal support of The Equality Act.

And then there are the two famous checks she wrote for $1,989 β€” an ode to her best-selling album β€” sent to two fans to pay a student loan and to donate to a dance marathon benefit.
taylor swift fans
Taylor Swift greets fans at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.

Wesley Lapointe/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The checks were sent out in 2014, according to People.

More recently, she has donated huge amounts to food banks along her Eras Tour route.
Taylor Swift performs during her "Eras Tour."
The Eras Tour will return to the US in 2024.

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Throughout the first US leg of her Eras Tour, Swift habitually made large donations to local food pantries. She continued this tradition throughout the tour's European leg.

Swift has also been known to support victims of gun violence in recent years.

She also helps out her fellow pop stars. She gave Kesha $250,000 to help with legal fees during her lawsuit against Dr. Luke.
kesha
Kesha released hit songs like "Tik Tok" and "Praying."

Joseph Okpako/WireImage

For several years, Kesha was embroiled in a defamation lawsuit after she accused the music producer Dr. Luke, her former mentor, of "unrelenting abuse" and rape. (Dr. Luke denied the allegations, and they reached a settlement in 2023.)

The "Rainbow" singer revealed Swift's donation during an interview with Rolling Stone in 2017.

Kesha described Swift as "a fucking sweetheart. Very, very sweet, very, very genuine, extremely generous, picks up the phone every time I call her. My mom doesn't even always pick up the phone!"

Swift has proven herself to be incredibly savvy with investments.
Taylor Swift attends the 2022 MTV VMAs at Prudential Center on August 28, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey.
Taylor Swift is a musician and businesswoman.

Getty/Jamie McCarthy

In 2022, Swift pulled out of a $100 million sponsorship deal with Sam Bankman-Fried's FTX after she questioned the company if it was selling "unregistered securities."

AsΒ Business Insider reported, many other celebrities such as Tom Brady and Stephen Curry failed to do so and were subsequently sued for endorsing the now-bankrupt crypto exchange.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Taylor Swift spent 484 hours — the equivalent of over 20 straight days — singing onstage during the Eras Tour

9 December 2024 at 06:15
Taylor Swift performs in the purple and blue "Lover" bodysuit against an orange background during the Eras Tour.
Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour.

Kate Green/Getty Images

  • Taylor Swift's Eras Tour ended in Vancouver on Sunday.
  • The tour stretched for 149 dates, visited 21 countries, and grossed over $2 billion in ticket sales.
  • Swift spent about 484 hours performing onstage, the equivalent of over 20 days.

Taylor Swift has finally wrapped up the two-year cultural phenomenon known as the Eras Tour.

Swift performed her final show on Sunday at BC Place in Vancouver, capping a remarkable run that spanned five continents and grossed over $2 billion, the highest-earning concert run in history. In her newly published book, Swift described it as "the most wondrous tour of my life."

We compiled a series of key stats to help capture the spectacular feat and impact of the Eras Tour.

The Eras Tour consisted of 149 shows in 21 countries.
Taylor Swift performs in a gold tassel dress during the "Fearless" segment of the Eras Tour.
Taylor Swift performs during the "Fearless" segment of the Eras Tour.

Erika Goldring/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Swift originally announced the Eras Tour in late 2022 as a 27-show run across the US.

The demand overwhelmed Ticketmaster's servers, prompting Swift to add more dates. Before long, the tour swelled into a multi-continent bonanza.

The Eras Tour kicked off on March 17, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona. The first US leg was followed by the Latin America leg, including stops in Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil.

In February 2024, the Eras Tour entered its second year with a four-show stint in Tokyo (famously the same weekend that Swift's boyfriend Travis Kelce played in the Super Bowl). Next came stops in Australia and Singapore.

The European leg covered 11 countries: France, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and Poland. Swift was forced to cancel all three planned shows in Vienna after the police discovered and thwarted a terrorist plot.

After returning to the US for another short leg, the tour concluded in Canada with stops in Toronto and Vancouver, bringing the final total to 149 shows across 21 countries.

Swift recruited 18 different artists as tour support.
Sabrina Carpenter performs during the Eras Tour in Melbourne, Australia.
Sabrina Carpenter performs during the Eras Tour in Melbourne, Australia.

Graham Denholm/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Swift invited an array of friends, collaborators, and rising stars to open for the Eras Tour, periodically adding new faces and local performers as she traveled the world.

By the end of the tour's run, the complete slate of openers included, in order of appearance: Paramore, Gayle, Beabadoobee, MUNA, Gracie Abrams, Phoebe Bridgers, Owenn, Haim, Sabrina Carpenter, Louta, METTE, Griff, Benson Boone, Sofia Isella, Holly Humberstone, Suki Waterhouse, Maisie Peters, and Raye.

Several of these artists already had personal connections to Swift. Hayley Williams of Paramore, for example, has been close with the superstar since they were teenagers. When Swift released "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" last year, Williams was a featured vocalist on the vault track "Castles Crumbling." Bridgers has also guested on a rerecorded vault track: "Nothing New," included on "Red (Taylor's Version)" in 2021. Similarly, after years of friendship, the Haim sisters lent background vocals to Swift's 2020 song "No Body, No Crime."

Most recently, Swift collaborated with Abrams for her album "The Secret of Us." Their duet, "Us," is nominated for best pop duo/group collaboration at the 2025 Grammys.

Swift spent about 484 hours β€” over 20 straight days β€” performing onstage.
Taylor Swift performs "August" during the Eras Tour in New Orleans.
Taylor Swift performs "August" during the Eras Tour in New Orleans.

Erika Goldring/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

As the name suggests, the Eras Tour was designed to celebrate the many phases of Swift's 18-year career. Each night, she performed a marathon of songs, stretching from her first crossover hit, 2008's "Love Story," to her latest single, 2024's "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart." (Her 2006 debut album did not get its own portion of the show, but that's a complaint for another day.)

Thanks to the ambitious concept, the Eras Tour was easily the longest of Swift's career in terms of performance length.

While the exact duration could vary from show to show, depending on set list changes or weather delays, the average length of each concert was about three hours and 15 minutes.

Using that as a benchmark, we can estimate that across 149 shows, Swift spent about 484.25 hours singing, dancing, and dazzling the crowd. That's equivalent to 20 days, 4 hours, and 15 minutes.

To train for the grueling athletic feat, Swift said she ran on the treadmill every day while "singing the entire set list out loud."

About 25 of those hours were spent singing "All Too Well" alone.
Taylor Swift performs "All Too Well" during the Eras Tour in Toronto.
Taylor Swift performs "All Too Well" during the Eras Tour in Toronto.

Emma McIntyre/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Back in 2021, Swift unveiled the rerecorded version of "Red," her seminal 2012 album.

The tracklist included the 10-minute version of "All Too Well," a long-standing fan-favorite deep cut. Swifties had been begging to hear the song in its extended form ever since Swift let slip that she'd cut about half the lyrics she'd originally written.

Fueled by years of anticipation, a cinematic short film, and, of course, a healthy dose of muse speculation, "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100. It broke the record for the longest No. 1 song ever, previously held by Don McLean's "American Pie (Parts I & II)."

Later, the song became a staple on the Eras Tour setlist. Swift always performed the full version, which actually clocks in at 10 minutes and 13 seconds. Multiplied by 149 shows, Swift has spent approximately 25.32 hours on the Eras Tour stage singing about her lost scarf and her ex's casual cruelty.

Swift started with 44 songs on the setlist. After she released her new album, it stretched to 46.
Taylor Swift performs "The Tortured Poets Department" during the Eras Tour in London.
Taylor Swift performs "The Tortured Poets Department" during the Eras Tour in London.

Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

The Eras Tour set list has always started with "Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince" and ended with "Karma."

Over the course of the tour, a handful of songs were shuffled around, added, or switched out. After Swift's split from Joe Alwyn was made public, she swapped "Invisible String" (a love song) for "The 1" (a breakup song). To celebrate the release of "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)," Swift briefly added "Long Live" to the setlist. She periodically performed "Nothing New" and "No Body, No Crime" when Bridgers and Haim were opening those shows.

The set list received its biggest overhaul for the European leg in May 2024, just after Swift released her newest album, "The Tortured Poets Department." Swift removed several songs and combined "Folklore" and "Evermore" into one chunk in order to make space for a "Tortured Poets" chapter β€” lovingly dubbed "Female Rage: The Musical" by Swift.

Swift performed over 180 additional songs that weren't on the setlist during her acoustic segments.
Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour in Miami.
Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour in Miami.

TAS2024/Getty Images for TAS

Each show on the Eras Tour included a special acoustic segment, during which Swift played one surprise song on the guitar and another on the piano.

These pairings could be chosen from any album or era, starting with the 2020 deep cut "Mirrorball" and Swift's 2006 debut single "Tim McGraw."

Occasionally, Swift would sing a song that wasn't hers as a duet with that artist, like "Espresso" with Sabrina Carpenter, "Thinking Out Loud" with Ed Sheeran, and "I Love You, I'm Sorry" with Gracie Abrams at the penultimate show.

Swift originally said she wouldn't repeat songs she'd already played, but that rule was squashed when she replayed "Clean" in New Jersey, claiming she wanted to try the song in a higher key.

During her second show in Buenos Aires, shortly after the release of "1989 (Taylor's Version)," Swift performed her first-ever mashup on the Eras Tour, combining the popular vault track "Is It Over Now?" with a single from the original album, "Out of the Woods."

Thus began a new tradition, which saw Swift blending songs that had similar tempos or themes.

If we exclude repeats and songs that had once been in the regular setlist, Swift performed 181 different songs acoustically.

The most-performed surprise song was "You're On Your Own, Kid," which Swift pulled out 11 different times.
Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour in Liverpool, England.
Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour in Liverpool, England.

Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

"You're On Your Own, Kid" was released as the fifth track on "Midnights." In the outro, Swift sings, "Make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it / You've got no reason to be afraid," which inspired fans to wear and trade bracelets at her concerts.

Swift also tended to repeat "Maroon" (10 times) and "Out of the Woods" (six times).

While on the road, Swift donated hundreds of thousands of meals to food banks around the world.
Taylor Swift performs "The Man" during the Eras Tour in New Orleans.
Taylor Swift performs "The Man" during the Eras Tour in New Orleans.

Erika Goldring/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

We don't know the exact details of Swift's charity during the Eras Tour, but according to multiple sources, she made a habit of donating huge amounts to food banks in the cities she visited.

Swift didn't make these donations public, but some of her recipients did, including food banks in Arizona, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Nevada, and Washington. Aditi Desai, chief marketing officer at the Food Bank of the Rockies, told AP News that Swift donated enough for 75,000 meals.

Swift continued this routine when she took the tour overseas, including in several cities across the United Kingdom.

The tour grossed over $2 billion in ticket sales.
Taylor Swift performs "Karma" during the Eras Tour in Dublin.
Taylor Swift performs "Karma" during the Eras Tour in Dublin.

Charles McQuillan/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

In December 2023, the Eras Tour became the first concert tour to gross over $1 billion, according to the trade publication Pollstar.

Despite the high cost of attendance and even higher resale values, Swift had reportedly sold 4.35 million tickets β€” and the tour wasn't even halfway over yet. Her economic prowess, which injected millions into the US economy, would soon affect Europe and other countries around the world.

The morning of Swift's final performance, The New York Times reported that the Eras Tour had crossed the $2 billion threshold, making it the first concert tour in history to do so.

This figure was confirmed by Taylor Swift Touring, the singer's production company. The company said over 10 billion people attended the Eras Tour.

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Taylor Swift helped me get closer to my teen daughter. The Eras Tour is ending, but I'll cherish these moments forever.

8 December 2024 at 03:13
Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at Johan Cruijff Arena on July 05, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at Johan Cruijff Arena on July 05, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Aldara Zarraoa/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

  • Taylor Swift's Eras Tour strengthened my bond with my teenage daughter.
  • The shared experience of attending the concert and streaming others brought us closer in many ways.
  • Swift's influence extended beyond music, teaching valuable life lessons and I'm forever grateful.

When Taylor Swift's Eras Tour started, my daughter had just turned 13. Typically, teenage girls pull away from their mothers, declaring as much independence as possible, and my daughter was no exception. After all, she already had a full life full of friends and sports apart from me. Even though she lived in the same house, I missed her. Then, Swift burst into our lives. It was spectacular.

Taylor Swift brought my daughter and I closer

Like much of America (and the world), my daughter was desperate to see the Eras Tour. With each show she live-streamed, her desire grew and grew. She eventually asked for my help getting the impossible-to-find tickets. We searched together for weeks. It wasn't the bonding experience I would have chosen, but texts from my daughter morphed from brief three-letter responses like "OMG" to coded messages using Swift's lyrics that only we understood. She even started saying "Thank you" and "I love you." My smile could have it up the whole town.

When kind relatives unbelievably gifted my daughter tickets to the Philadelphia show, we spent time together making friendship bracelets, shopping for outfits, and listening to Swift on repeat. Just as my daughter was pulling away, we suddenly had a reason to spend more time together β€” all of it joyful.

A mother and Daughter, wearing yellow heart glasses, simle while in the stands at a Taylor Swift concert during The Eras Tour.
The author and her teen daughter enjoy taking in the sights before Taylor Swift takes the stage in Philadelphia.

Jamie Davis Smith

The Eras Tour brought us closer

When we finally saw Swift in May 2023, my daughter was bubbly and talkative. We arrived hours before the show began to take it all in. It had been years since we spent that much uninterrupted time together and I savored every moment. The show itself was, of course, incredible. But while most of the audience was watching Swift, I was watching my daughter. I teared up when Swift described how music brought her closer to her own mother. When we left, I told my daughter, "I had the best day with you."

After the show, lyrics spanning all of Swift's eras morphed their way out of text messages and into everyday parlance. We often told a younger sibling, "You need to calm down." We told each other, "By the way, I'm going out tonight," while a secret grin passed between us.

I wanted to see the Eras Tour again

Experiencing the Eras Tour with my daughter was so transformative that I wanted to do it again, and so did she. I had my chance when I got tickets to a show in Warsaw a year in advance. Traveling halfway around the world for a concert seemed like a wild move. Nevertheless, I jumped in and committed myself fully, wanting to extend the magic Swift created between my daughter and me for as long as possible.

That year was a gift, one that allowed me to continue to share a bond with my daughter as I morphed into almost as big as Swiftie as she is. We used the opportunity to plan a trip of a lifetime through Europe, in a fever dream high. We continued watching live streams of Swift's shows together and made more friendship bracelets. My daughter quizzed me on Swift's discography and I got pretty good at answering her questions.

We talked about what makes Swift great beyond her music

As I learned more about Swift, I discovered she was a great role model. Swift embodied many lessons I wanted my daughter to learn, lessons she may not be open to hearing from me but would gladly take in from an idol.

We talked about how Swift boldly stood up for herself time and time again. She was not quiet when she was sexually assaulted. She rerecoded most of her albums when her label sold her original recordings over her objections. She was not afraid to speak up about politicians she opposed, even though those around her advised her to keep her head down. Swift confronts sexism and ageism boldly. She does not seem to settle when it comes to love. She is creative and savvy in business. Most of all, she appears to love her mother deeply. These are all lessons I want my daughter to take to heart as she grows. Swift was the person who opened the door to allow me to talk about these life lessons with my daughter. For that, I will be forever grateful.

I will keep the lessons of the Eras Tour with me

I wish the Eras Tour would last forever, but I know it has to end. As we prepare to say goodbye to Taylor Swift for now, I will remember to be open to sharing my children's interests. I will say yes more often, even when a plan seems outlandish. I will look for more opportunities to create magic with my children. I will remember that these things are possible, no matter how old they get.

My daughter and I have plans to watch a live stream of the Eras Tour one last time when Swift takes her final bow on December 8th. Thank you, Taylor, for the incredible gift of the Eras Tour. But I am especially grateful for the gift of togetherness you gave to my daughter and me.

Long live the Eras Tour. I had the time of my life.

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Christian Louboutin made one key change to his iconic red soles when designing Eras Tour shoes for Taylor Swift

27 November 2024 at 20:31
Taylor Swift performing on the Eras Tour in Germany.
Shoe designer Christian Louboutin made 250 pairs of shoes for Taylor Swift for her Eras Tour.

Andreas Rentz/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

  • Christian Louboutin made one key change to the iconic red soles from his namesake brand for Taylor Swift.
  • Louboutin told InStyle he used rubber soles instead of leather for Swift's Eras Tour shoes.
  • The shoe designer previously said he had crafted 250 pairs of shoes for the singer to wear on her tour.

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour shoes were made for walking, running, and jumping regardless of the weather. After all, the show must go on.

In an interview with InStyle published on Wednesday, shoe designer Christian Louboutin said that he made one key change to his iconic red soles when creating footwear for the singer on her tour.

"Weather is unpredictable," Louboutin told InStyle. "However, each pair is crafted with a signature red rubber sole, which makes it easy to dance."

The shoe brand's iconic red soles are usually made from leather and painted with a special red lacquer, per Louboutin's website.

The designer added that he typically uses rubber soles when designing shoes for musicians on their tours, as this ensures that the shoes can withstand performances night after night.

The designs of Swift's Eras Tour shoes were inspired by the singer's past looks, and were the result of a collaborative effort between Swift, her stylist Joseph Cassell, and himself, Louboutin said.

"Each pair is made to fully allow for quick changes through the entirety of the show. As they are dancing for over three hours, comfort is also extremely important. So we incorporated sturdy block heels and also flats," Louboutin said.

In November last year, one lucky Swiftie managed to snag an exclusive Eras Tour souvenir β€” a bejeweled heel from one of the singer's Louboutin boots that had broken off while she was performing.

In May, Louboutin told Vogue that he had designed 250 pairs of shoes for the superstar, including 60 new pairs for the European leg of her Eras Tour alone.

Luxury cobblers previously told Business Insider that the "Cruel Summer" singer may have sparked an interest in Louboutins among Gen Z after donning the red soles on her tour.

"She's a big influencer in the brand and product," Pasquale Fabrizio, designer and owner of Pasquale Shoe Repair in Los Angeles, said. "Just endorsing it and wearing it allows the younger generation of girls to go after that look. She exemplifies fashion."

Fabrizio added that he's seen more and more people come into his shop over the past few years to have their Louboutin shoes repaired.

For reference, the brand's iconic stiletto pumps cost upward of $795, while boots cost upward of $1,195, per the brand's website.

A representative for Swift did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.

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