On Sunday, December 8, Taylor Swift took her final bow on the tour that defined an era. The tour’s estimated 10 million attendees, global reach across five continents, and staggering 152 shows secure its place in music history. With over $2 billion in revenue, The Eras Tour is the highest-grossing tour in history. It has had an unbelievable impact on the world and the cities it has visited.
According to her agent, Swift “wanted to make a positive impact” in the communities she visited during her tour. With donations to over 1,400 U.K. food banks, charities, and organizations at nearly every leg of the American tour, Swift’s generosity will leave a legacy beyond just her music. The ten-act concert alone left an economic mark—Toronto generated $262 million in income from six sold-out shows. “Miss Americana’s” presence aided hotels, rideshare services, and restaurants, too. Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe underwent a 355% increase in customer visits during the Nashville leg of the tour. “Her generosity goes beyond dollars for meals. The space in her heart will empower households across Southeast Michigan to live happier, healthier lives,” said the Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan.
The Show: A Theatrical Spectacle
The Eras Tour setlist was an immaculate ten-act recap of ten of Taylor Swift’s eleven albums (excluding her self-titled debut album) or “Eras,” turning her storied career into a masterful live anthology. With a sprawling 3-hour and 19-minute runtime, Swift and her dynamic crew performed 46 songs each night that spanned genres, themes, and emotions. There were also two “surprise songs” each night.
Each era unfolded a self-contained theatrical act with tailored costumes and intricate stage performances. From the soaring pastels of “Lover” to the earthy tones of “Evermore,” immersive storytelling took the audience on an unforgettable trip through Swift’s artistic evolution. The arena was an ever-shifting world that any Swiftie would give the world to experience.
Swift balanced moments of quiet introspection from albums like “Folklore” with electric, stadium-shaking anthems from “Reputation.” The two tracks, both from her 2017 album “Reputation,” featured commendable musicality and what was arguably Swift’s best costume out of the over 60 she’s worn on tour. What truly gave me the chills, though, was the electrifying guitar solo during “Look What You Made Me Do.” Swift’s live guitarists, Paul Sidoti and Max Bernstein, could convince even her biggest critic that she’s destined to release a rock album.
Swift has never shied away from all-encompassing performances on stage. Still, it’s fascinating that she added an entire new album to the setlist without further explanation. The addition of seven tracks from “The Tortured Poets Department” was a welcome change. Swift delivered fantastic performances of new, relevant songs while dazzling the world with new costumes. Unfortunately, fan favorites, predominantly from “Folklore” and “Evermore,” were removed to accommodate the new album. The loss of “‘Tis The Damn Season” and “Tolerate It” brought the audience more tears than their lyrics once did.
From the haunting, choral solemnity of “My Tears Ricochet” to the dazzling, fairytale grandeur of “Enchanted,” the Eras Tour is a theatrical spectacle born from an artist’s richly deserved legacy. “Don’t Blame Me” for confusing Swift’s “The Eras Tour” film with a Broadway musical.
What Happened On Tour?
Frankly, everything happened while Taylor Swift was on the Eras Tour. The tour began on March 17, 2023. On May 5, Swift announced the re-recording of her third studio album, “Speak Now,” in the middle of a show. She released “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” on July 7. The album’s success made Swift the woman with the most No. 1 albums in Billboard history. In October, Swift released the film “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” which grossed $249 million. The film, now released on Disney+, is the highest-grossing concert film in history. Swift subsequently released “1989 (Taylor’s Version), the American singer-songwriter’s fourth commercial rerecording success.
2023 ended in resounding glory for Taylor Swift. She became the first billionaire to have made all her money from music and was the most-streamed artist on Spotify and Apple Music. To close the year off, “Time” named her “Person of the Year.”
It’s no surprise that 2024 has brought even more success to Swift’s career. “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” her concert film, was added to Disney+ on March 14. Swift won the Grammy for “Pop Vocal Album of the Year.” After convincing every Swiftie on the globe that she was going to announce “Reputation (Taylor’s Version)” at the Grammys, she announced a new album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” Released on April 19, the album was a major success, spending 12 weeks on top of the Billboard 200. Swift wrote part of “TTPD” during the Eras Tour. She took the tour’s final bow on December 8, 2024.
The Crowds Went Wild
Taylor Swift predicted the future in 2010 with “Long Live” from the album “Speak Now.” There’s no denying that Swift and her Swifties had the time of their lives, nor is there any denying that the crowds went wild. The magic she created and its worldwide effects will endure beyond our lifetimes.
From “Pollstar” calling the tour “The Greatest Show on Earth” to heads of state from around the world petitioning the megastar to tour in their countries, Taylor Swift has clearly made her mark. What stands out to me, though, isn’t the statistics or the cities that renamed themselves in honor of the singer; it’s the unimaginable way she’s affected people of entirely different backgrounds and views. “There are very few things that will ever top being in Arrowhead Stadium during that concert,” one reporter said. Worldwide Swifties, myself included, followed the live streams of tour attendees, creating a close-knit group connected by their admiration for the skilled songwriter.
The Eras Tour was much more than just a concert. Creating an all-encompassing cultural phenomenon, Taylor Swift and her crew eclipsed their fans, the music industry, and the world. Swift’s unmatched artistry, philanthropy, and unifying ability have brought millions together, even if just for a brief moment.
Of course, given the tour’s grand scale, there’s no wonder some things went wrong. Critics worldwide attested that the tour was unremarkable, lacked musical innovation, and attacked Swift herself. Jack Sweeney, a University of Central Florida student, actively tracked and published Swift’s jet travels while she toured, prompting Swift and her lawyers to issue an ineffective cease and desist. This drew widespread controversy about the star’s environmental impact and whether or not she faced any danger due to Sweeney’s actions. Many feel Swift, who is idolized by millions of people, should be more conscientious regarding the environment. Sweeney claims Swift released 83 times the average American’s CO2 emissions. Additionally, both Swifties and non-Swifties criticized the Ticketmaster business for offering what they saw as weak customer service and high prices. Price gouging resold tickets was a significant issue among fans, and some say Swift should’ve done more to stop it.
Still, I can confidently claim that all 10 million attendees of this revolutionary tour would say it was incredible. Swift balanced performance and philanthropy without crossing the line into performative philanthropy—the billionaire star did so much for the world without any desire for intensive media coverage. I firmly believe that the Eras Tour will leave a legacy of connection, creativity, and kindness. In the words of Swift herself, “Long live all the magic we made.”