Taylor Swift "Got Millions" From Singapore For Sole Performance In SEA

Singapore said economic benefits from Taylor Swift’s concerts outweigh the incentives the city-state offered the singer to perform, amid speculation about how much it paid her to secure a Southeast Asia-exclusive performance, as reported by Philip J. Heijmans for Channel News Asia (CNA).

The economic benefits to Singapore wrought by Swift's performance, including additional tourist arrivals and spending on entertainment and retail in the island nation, supposedly were “significant” and outweighed the size of the grant. I Photo: Taylor Swift Facebook

“There has been some online speculation as to the size of the grant,” said Edwin Tong, minister for culture, community, and youth, addressing parliament on Monday.

“It is not accurate and not anywhere as high as speculated, but due to business confidentiality reasons, we cannot reveal the specific size of the grant or the conditions of the grant.”

Tong emphasized that the economic benefits to Singapore, including additional tourist arrivals and spending on entertainment and retail in the island nation, are “significant” and outweigh the size of the grant.

Speculation over the matter gained steam online after Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said Singapore offered subsidies of up to $3 million for each concert in exchange for Swift agreeing not to perform elsewhere in the region during her Eras tour, as reported by Bloomberg.

CNA reported last week that the figure was closer to $2-$3 million in total for all six shows, without specifying the source of the information.

Thailand is not the only Southeast Asian nation to voice its displeasure; a Philippine lawmaker reportedly criticized Singapore over its exclusivity deal and urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to raise the issue with Singapore’s envoy in the country.

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