Abstract
Music concerts have been a common and popular event type for destinations, as artists take their performances to their audiences around the world. However, reports of destinations negotiating exclusive rights to events supported by governmental grants have emerged. Using the example of Taylor Swift’s allegedly exclusive contract to perform only in Singapore during the Eras Tour as a case study, this research note illuminates how music concerts are not just for entertainment purposes but are business opportunities to enhance a destination’s brand and stimulate tourism benefits and play important geopolitical roles in shaping diplomatic relationships and political goodwill. The Taylor Swift and Singapore case study also prompts future debates and discussions as to whether destinations ought to follow suit in terms of executing exclusive contracts for artists and major events, thereby shifting event management and artist/organizations’ expectations and possibly (over)politicizing events management amidst much talk of government support and subsidies.