THE YEAR THAT WAS FROM TRIUMPHS TO TRAGEDY, 2023 BROUGHT IT ALL - TAYLOR ON TOP

WE ARE WOMEN. HEAR US ROAR

- Sara Tapia

Even if you weren’t one of the thousands who diligently queued online for hours when tickets were released for the Australian leg of Taylor Swift’s epic Eras Tour in June, you’ll still have heard the news of Ticketmaster crashing due to the unfathomable demand and stadiums selling out in mere minutes. The buzz surrounding the singer all year has been inescapable and she’s now expected to gross over $1.5 billion dollars – the most an artist has ever made from a single tour in history.

Not only that, it’s created what some have dubbed the “Taylor effect”. From skyrocketing sales in friendship bracelets to politicians from Thailand, Hungary and Chile begging her to play in their countries, Swift has come out on top in 2023. “When the [US] Federal Reserve mentions you as the reason economic growth is up, that’s a big deal,” Duke University finance professor, Ed Tiryakian, recently told Time magazine – which awarded Swift their Person of the Year accolade.

Although the musician’s “Swifties” have always proven to be a loyal fanbase, the Eras Tour saw Swift reach new fans and new heights of hype and hysteria not seen since The Beatles – or perhaps ever. “Beatlemania and Thriller have nothing on these shows,” the singer’s friend and collaborator Phoebe Bridgers has shared. Even Swift herself can appreciate that this year has been like no other during her almost two decades in the business. “It feels like the breakthrough moment of my career, happening at 33,” Swift told Time.