The Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.

You don't have to be a "swiftie" to have been touched by Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, which kicked off in March and ended its first U.S. leg on 9th August, 2023.

The tour, which pays homage to every era of the artist's 17-year career, is set to become the biggest of all time a third of the way through its run- analysts estimate ticket sales will hit $1 billion in March, surpassing the current record-holder, Elton John's farewell tour, on its way to a projected gross of $2.2 billion in North American ticket sales alone. The money goes far deeper than ticket sales.

The Eras Tour is projected to generate close to $5 billion in consumer spending in the U.S. alone, with fans dropping an estimated $1300 to $1500 on ancillary local spending for things like outfits, dining, and travel.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker credited Swift with reviving the state's tourism industry after three nights in Chicago; world leaders from Chile to Canada have courted her to come through.

Swift's fans line up for hours to snag exclusive tour merchandise and clamor to get their hands on physical copies of her music, even in the digital age. She accounted for every 25th vinyl record sold in 2022, boosted by reissues, extras, and releasing various editions.

The Eras Tour likely owes a measure of its success to its post-pandemic timing, and the itch of concertgoers for an immersive live-music experience. But its unmatched triumph is of a piece with the career it both celebrates and amplifies. Swift is uniquely connected to her body of work-writing all of her songs, fiercely protecting her music in the streaming boom, and rerecording her discography to reclaim the master rights. The latest re-recording is due in October, 2023 as is a theatrical film of the concert.

But the power of the tour, which has dates across five continents scheduled through late 2024, is driven by her extraordinary connection to her fans.