Edwin Tong: Govt "moved fast and early" to secure Taylor Swift show in Singapore, declines to reveal amount spent

Source: Gutzy Asia
Author: Yee Loon

SINGAPORE: Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth (MCCY) reiterated that the government "moved fast and early" to bring Taylor Swift's The Era tour show to Singapore, added that the government was mindful of the holistic approach to securing the show.

Amid public scrutiny regarding the size of the taxpayer-funded grant to secure the show, Mr Tong reassured during the Parliament session on Monday (4 March) that the reported figures were inaccurate and not as high as rumoured.

However, he refrained from disclosing the exact amount, citing business confidentiality reasons.

Mr Tong was responding to questions filed by fellow MPs about the government's role in securing the Taylor Swift concert, focusing on the estimated economic return and the overall economic value-add.

He recalled the overarching vision established when the government took over the Sports Hub in 2022, emphasizing goals such as positioning Singapore and the Sports Hub as a premier sports and entertainment destination in the region, fostering a strong connection between Singaporeans and the Sports Hub, and maximizing synergies in the broader Kallang Live precinct.

Highlighting the role of Kallang Alive Sport Management (KASM), the entity operating the Sports Hub, Mr Tong underscored that it aimed to go beyond being just a venue for hire.

KASM actively identifies and creates content and programs to bring to Singapore, contributing to a notable 30 per cent increase in sports, entertainment, community, and lifestyle events since the government takeover.

Addressing the specifics of securing the Taylor Swift concert, Mr Tong noted that the government "moved swiftly and early" to secure the show and emphasized the recognition of a sizable Swifties fan base in Singapore and the broader region.

He added that the government's eagerness was rooted in delivering the concert experience directly to this fan base at the Sports Hub.

He elaborated further, stating Mr Tong Spotlights the Potential Impact of Taylor Swift's Show at the idea of staging marquee events at the Sports Hub was conceived even before the government takeover in December 2022.

In February 2023, he and his colleagues went to the US to study the sports and entertainment industry.

"When the opportunity to discuss holding a Taylor Swift concert in Singapore came up, we brought it immediately and subsequently discussed it in detail and thereafter reached an agreement for Singapore to be one of Taylor Swift's tour stops."

Mr Tong went on to highlight that the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) independently assessed the potential benefits of bringing the concert to Singapore.

Subsequently, STB offered a grant to the concert promoter after carefully weighing the anticipated benefits for Singapore.

Addressing speculation about the grant's size, Mr Tong clarified that the reported figures were inaccurate and not as high as rumoured.

However, he refrained from disclosing the exact amount due to business confidentiality reasons.

"I can assure members of the house that economic benefits to Singapore are assessed to be significant and outweigh the size of the grant."

In response to a supplementary question from Ms Usha Chandradas, a nominated MP, Mr Tong confirmed the existence of a confidentiality agreement between the Singapore government over the exclusive arrangement and Taylor Swift's team as part of the concert deal.

Compared with other cities hosting Taylor Swift concerts, Mr Tong mentioned the reported increase in economic activity arising from such events.

"The direct economic benefits include, for instance, additional tourist arrivals, additional spending on tickets on flights, hotel stays, as well as entertainment retail, and dining in Singapore."

While the Singapore show had not concluded, he acknowledged that market analysts estimated a dollar range for the economic upside

Mr Tong emphasized the importance of Singapore's strategic location, quality infrastructure, good amenities, safety efficiency, and diverse cultural offerings as reasons why world-class artists choose to host large-scale concerts in the city.

"In addition beyond the tourism and economic benefits, being able to host A-list artists such as Taylor Swift, we also help position Singapore as a cultural hub in Southeast Asia capable of hosting a range of different arts music and culture events."

Workers' Party Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC, Mr Gerald Giam, questioned the rationale behind providing taxpayer-funded grants to secure Taylor Swift concerts, especially considering Singapore's status as an inherently appealing destination for marquee events.

Additionally, he inquired whether the government negotiated to make Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour" the exclusive Southeast Asian stop, expressing concern about potential perceptions by neighbouring countries.

In response, Minister Tong defended the decision-making process, highlighting the multifaceted considerations involved.

"The real question is this: you have to make your calculations and work out what's in Singapore in Singaporean's best interest."

"If you don't have a certain economy of scale to play in Singapore over X number of nights for a period of time, you won't be able to reap the economies of scale, then this could be a very different balance to the considerations."

He cautioned that the concert might still occur in Singapore, but potentially for a reduced number of nights -- possibly far fewer -- or it might not take place in Singapore at all if the factors mentioned earlier are not duly considered.

He said the government considered the past tour history and the material considerations for discussing the duration and terms of staying in Singapore with Taylor Swift's team.

He also mentioned the importance of judging the demand in the local market and how these considerations played a role in deciding how to approach the negotiation and structure the event.

However, Mr Tong did not respond to Mr Giam's inquiry about his perspective on the possibility of other countries perceiving Singapore's pursuit of exclusivity as being mean.

In a recent interview with Channel NewsAsia (CNA), Mr Tong challenged claims of high spending, refuting earlier statements by Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

Diverging from assertions that Singapore spent up to US$3 million per concert, Tong stated, "The numbers that you see online - it is nowhere as high as what is being speculated."

According to a report by the Bangkok Post, Srettha alleged that Singapore had secured exclusive rights for Taylor Swift to perform at the renowned National Stadium in the city-state, effectively shutting out other Southeast Asian nations from hosting the pop sensation.

According to Srettha, AEG informed him that the Singapore government financially supported Taylor Swift's concerts, offering US$2 million to 3 million per show in exchange to perform solely in Singapore.

CNA's report suggests that the actual amount Singapore committed to securing Swift's six shows falls significantly lower, between US$2 million to US$3 million in total, countering the higher figures previously circulated.

"What I'll say is this: It's not just about a grant or a deal, but the overall package," he said, implying that the decision to host Swift was part of a larger strategy, though specifics of this strategy and its outcomes remain under discussion.

The minister's comments come amid scrutiny over the value and transparency of the deals made to attract international stars to Singapore. While Swift's six concerts have sold out, attracting over 300,000 fans, questions linger about the true cost to Singapore's taxpayers and the direct benefits of hosting such events.