Taylor Swift is one of the biggest pop stars in the world, known for hits like “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space,” and “Look What You Made Me Do.” Even though she has been releasing music for over 15 years, her popularity does not seem to be waning anytime soon. So is Taylor Swift still able to sell out arenas and stadiums in 2023? Let’s take a look at the data.
What tours has Taylor Swift done recently?
Taylor Swift’s most recent tour was the Reputation Stadium Tour in 2018 in support of her 2017 album Reputation. The tour sold over 2 million tickets and grossed over $345 million, making it the highest-grossing tour in US history by a woman. Some key stats about the Reputation Tour:
- 53 concerts in North America, Europe, and Oceania
- Over 2.8 million tickets sold
- $345.7 million total gross
- 14 concerts grossed over $10 million each
Prior to that, her 1989 World Tour in 2015 sold out arenas and stadiums around the world and grossed over $250 million. So Taylor has proven she can generate huge ticket sales and demand for her tours.
How have Taylor Swift’s recent albums sold?
While streaming has become the dominant form of music consumption, Taylor Swift’s album sales are still very strong:
- Reputation (2017) – 1.29 million US copies sold
- Lover (2019) – 1.09 million US copies sold
- Folklore (2020) – 1.276 million US copies sold
- Evermore (2020) – 1.073 million US copies sold
These numbers show that even in the streaming era, Taylor is moving over 1 million units per album release. Fans are still purchasing her albums in large quantities.
What have ticket sales been like for Taylor Swift’s recent live shows?
While Taylor has not done a full-scale tour since 2018, she has done some select live performances that indicate hercontinued ability to sell tickets:
- Capital One JamFest in Atlanta (4/2018) – 80,000 attendees
- AT&T Stadium (10/2018) – 105,000 attendees
- Amazon Prime Day (7/2019) – Over 100,000 RSVPs
- City of Lover concert in Paris (9/2019) – 45,000 attendees
Additionally, Taylor was set to headline 12 major music festivals in 2020 before they were canceled due to COVID-19. The demand was clearly still very high to see Taylor perform live.
Revenue and attendance from Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour
Location | Revenue | Attendance |
---|---|---|
North America | $202.3 million | 1.6 million |
Europe | $102.9 million | 979,000 |
Oceania | $40.5 million | 242,000 |
Total | $345.7 million | 2.8 million |
What do critics and other industry experts say about Taylor Swift’s touring power?
According to Pollstar’s 2018 Year End Top 100 Worldwide Tours chart, Taylor Swift ranked #4 with over $345 million grossed. Pollstar noted that the Reputation Tour was a testament to Taylor’s “unbelievable touring power.”
In 2019, Stubhub called Taylor Swift the best-selling act on their site of the year for the second time in a row. They reported that demand to see Taylor live was still going strong.
Also in 2019, Billboard wrote that Taylor Swift could announce a stadium tour in 2020 and instantly become the year’s top-grossing tour. They cited her devoted fanbase willing to pay premium prices to see her shows.
In 2021, Rolling Stone placed Taylor Swift at #8 on their list of Greatest Touring Acts of All Time. They estimated that her tours had grossed over $1.3 billion since 2006.
So according to top voices in the live music industry, Taylor Swift has securely maintained her status as one of the top touring acts in the world.
How has Taylor Swift’s ticket demand compared to other top artists?
Taylor Swift’s touring power has been comparable to that of mega rock stars like U2, The Rolling Stones, and Ed Sheeran in recent years. Here’s a look at how her ticket sales and demand have stacked up against others:
Highest Grossing Tours of 2018
Act | Gross |
---|---|
U2 | $126.2 million |
Taylor Swift | $345.1 million |
Jay-Z & Beyonce | $254.1 million |
Bruno Mars | $237.8 million |
As seen above, Taylor Swift was the #1 highest grossing tour worldwide in 2018 by a significant margin.
Most StubHub 2019 Best-Selling Acts
Act | Rank |
---|---|
Taylor Swift | #1 |
BTS | #2 |
Post Malone | #3 |
Ariana Grande | #4 |
As StubHub’s top act, Taylor Swift again shows she is in elite company when it comes to ticket demand.
What ticket prices has Taylor Swift been able to command?
Not only has demand for Taylor Swift tickets been high, but her devoted fan base has shown a willingness to pay higher premiums too. Here are some average ticket prices from her tours:
- Reputation Stadium Tour average ticket price – $226
- 1989 World Tour average ticket price – $155
- Red Tour average ticket price – $100
Additionally, Taylor has been able to sell special VIP packages for as much as $1,500 that include backstage tours, prime seating, and exclusive merchandise.
The premium pricing Taylor can command demonstrates that fans see her shows as hot commodities and must-attend events.
Average Ticket Prices for Taylor Swift Tours
Tour | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|
Reputation Stadium Tour | $226 |
1989 World Tour | $155 |
Red Tour | $100 |
How quickly have Taylor Swift’s tours sold out?
Not only have Taylor’s tours grossed enormous sums but they have also sold out incredibly quickly, highlighting the rush among fans to secure tickets.
- Reputation Tour sold out all North American dates in 1 day
- 1989 Tour sold out all US dates in 3 days
- Red Tour sold out all US dates in 1 day
- Speak Now Tour sold out all US dates in 2 days
This shows the ferocity of Taylor’s fans to obtain tickets as soon as sales begin. It underscores the massive demand to see her live in concert.
US Sell Out Times for Taylor Swift Tours
Tour | US Sell Out |
---|---|
Reputation | 1 day |
1989 | 3 days |
Red | 1 day |
Speak Now | 2 days |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the data shows that Taylor Swift remains one of music’s most dominant touring forces even 15 years into her career. Factors indicating her continued ability to sell out tours and premium tickets include:
- Massively successful recent tours grossing over $250 million
- Album sales over 1 million per release, even in streaming era
- Select shows consistently selling 80,000+ tickets
- High demand from major festivals pre-pandemic
- Industry experts ranking her tours among top grossing acts
- Comparable ticket sales and demand to top artists like U2 and BTS
- Premium ticket prices averaging over $200
- Rapid sell outs across tours
Given Taylor Swift’s devoted fanbase that snaps up tickets and her continued success at selling out massive venues, there is no indication her touring prowess will decline anytime soon. She remains one of the surest bets in music when it comes to live ticket sales.
Taylor Swift’s next tour has not been announced yet, but there is already intense speculation and anticipation. There is little doubt that her next outing will produce more staggering numbers and continue her reign as one of the music industry’s greatest ticket sellers.
Until Taylor announces her next tour, fans will eagerly await the opportunity to pack stadiums and prove once again the undiminished demand to see one of music’s greatest live performers.