HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE: OUR NEW ABNORMAL

Now that a few weeks have passed, we can talk about it with less passion or frustration. What am I referring to? I want to touch on the Taylor Swift Eras tour, and whether we have any right to complain or bi_ _h about the “fait accompli” of Singapore, and how it was such a masterstroke of Marketing for the city-state. 

We had Rep. Joey Salceda criticizing the exclusive deal, saying it’s not “what good neighbors do.” In Bangkok, there was mention made of financial incentives offered to Swift’s management to perform exclusively in Singapore over multiple dates. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong responded by saying he didn’t see it as unfriendly, but more as a business opportunity that made sense for them, and that terms were agreed on.

Six sold-out nights at the Singapore Stadium, where 70 percent of the audience flew in, shooting up by 186 percent Singapore’s inbound flights during the March 1 to 9 period. According to Trip.com, accommodation bookings in the city-state almost quintupled. Plus don’t forget the incremental spending that happens when these big concerts, festivals, sporting events happen - Klook’s GM for Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, Sarah Wan, was quoted estimating an additional US$800 spent on local hotels, restaurants, and other experiences during a typical tourist stay for said concert. 

And you and I know this all happened, as it seemed like we all knew a number of friends, relatives, or acquaintances who flew to Singapore for the concert - a number traveling with their children, and proud to post after, saying it was the first concert for their teenage daughter. And by most accounts, we have to admit they had a great time. Singapore’s airport is a dream, the Stadium holds 50,000 seats, and access to and from the Stadium is convenient, easy, and safe. Eras is a multi-continent concert tour that’s destined to become the highest grossing tour of all time, and you can’t top Taylor Swift’s popularity right now. 

If Singapore saw the opportunity, backed up its desire with the financial capability to make it happen, and knew it was a sure thing; I can’t blame Swift’s management for saying Yes. It saved them a lot of the wear and tear of touring, still meant 300,000 fans over the six nights, and for most of the fans, it was all worth the experience, and cost. 

So yes, we did have Ed Sheeran most recently, and Coldplay earlier in the year. But Sheeran was an outdoor concert, and while the MOA Arena is a great venue, its limited seating capacity may not always work for the more expensive, big-name acts. Coldplay had their two nights at the Philippine Arena. The Philippine Arena in itself works as a big venue; but there’s nothing around it. No hotels, no eating establishments, no reliable public transportation. For most, it’s a nightmare we suffer in the name of the musical act we crave to watch. 

I watched Coldplay’s first night, and I don’t know where they were billeted; but on the two nights, Chris Martin couldn’t stop himself from mentioning the awful Manila traffic. Which means they were stuck in it for hours, just getting to the venue. One can imagine how early in the day they head to the Arena, so just think about the concert-going audience who head there when the traffic has intensified. Now remind me what most Filipinos had to say about attending the Taylor Swift concerts? 

And keep in mind that Coldplay love their Philippine fan base, how we react to their performances with so much more gusto than in other countries. There is recognition of Manila as a strong market for these acts to visit; but presently, it’s the logistical side that gets in the way - from the airport, to the venue, facilities, and amenities. 

Pasay City and SM Prime Holdings Inc, and their ongoing Smart City development includes a big arena/concert venue. One that’s intended to house up to 70,000 fans, and is connected to the rest of the area’s main destination recreational spot, the Central Park. And as this Pasay City project is near the airport, with hotels and commercial establishments all located nearby; one can readily imagine how this big-sized venue would be the perfect solution for those frustrated by the limitation of the choices we presently can offer. Me, I see it as an ideal opportunity to up the stakes, and make us a more credible stop on the tours of these top tier acts - whether from the USA, Europe, or South Korea! 

In the final analysis, we can call the Singapore checkmate move unfriendly, unfair, whatever; but the truth is, if we could have done it and made it happen here in Manila - we’d be calling ourselves genius, and smugly counting the ‘moolah’. And that is so true, it doesn’t even need a discussion. 

We’re just “inggit,” jealous that we can’t make that same kind of pitch. But who knows, if the future developments of Pasay City and it’s Smart City come true soon enough, the next global musical superstar may find it hard to resist a prolonged/extended, and exclusive, tour engagement in the Philippines. We’d all love that!