The Taylor Swift effect in the United States: “She stimulated the American economy”

The effect of "Taylor Swift", mega pop star whose tour in the United States broke records, has stimulated the American economy in recent months, underlined Thursday the president of the New York Fed, John Williams.

“There is clearly a Taylor Swift effect on consumer spending because people spent on the concert, the hotel, all of that was a big phenomenon,” said the head of the New York branch of the American central bank, during an interview on Bloomberg TV.

With 146 dates in sold-out stadiums, Taylor Swift, on tour since March in the United States and Mexico, should reach a billion dollars in revenue. She will continue her concerts in Argentina, Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, until the end of next year

The month of May was even the strongest for hotel revenues in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) since the start of the pandemic, "largely thanks to an influx of visitors for Taylor Swift concerts in the city", reported a responsible for the sector cited in the Fed's Beige Book, a survey published in early July.

Overall, "demand is strong. We are seeing this rotation (of spending) from goods to services that we were talking about a year ago. People are traveling more, going to restaurants, going to shows," detailed John Williams.

In fact, it is now the prices of services that are driving inflation upwards, while the prices of goods are falling.

The Fed, working to slow inflation, has raised its rates 11 times since March 2022, in order to increase the cost of credit, and, thus, slow down consumption and investment. To ultimately ease the pressure on prices.

United States: Taylor Swift, an essential asset for the 2024 presidential election? (II)

(this is a follow up of a previous post)

"Another level"

But is this support so easy to obtain? The singer was 

widely criticized by Democrats for not openly supporting Hillary Clinton against Donald Trump in 2016.

After years of caution, the singer came out of the woods for the first time in 2018, sponsoring a Democrat in her home state of Tennessee.

In 2020, Taylor Swift officially announced her support for Joe Biden against President Donald Trump, accusing the Republican of having “fanned the flames of white supremacism and racism throughout (his) mandate”.

The exact impact this support had on the Democrat's victory is difficult to quantify.

But the artist has, since the last election, accessed a new status.

Taylor Swift “was popular in 2020, but her popularity (…) went to another level,” explains Matthew Harris, professor of political science at Park University.

The star is very popular among young women of voting age. Joe Biden is counting heavily on this electorate, which brought him to power in 2020, to get re-elected.

But the polls are not good for the Democrat among young people, particularly since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Many criticize his administration's too strong support for the Israeli ally.

(to be continued)

 

United States: Taylor Swift, an essential asset for the 2024 presidential election? (I)

Pop superstar, youth idol, and soon-to-be campaign icon? The influence of singer Taylor Swift is at the heart of all the desires for the 2024 American presidential election.

The 34-year-old artist, personality of the year according to Time magazine, is at the top of his art, breaking absolutely all records.

One example among many: his “Eras Tour” exceeded the symbolic threshold of a billion dollars in revenue over 60 dates in 2023 – an amount never seen before in the history of music.

Hailing from the rural state of Tennessee, Taylor Swift began her journey in country music, a genre particularly beloved by conservatives.

According to a poll published Tuesday by the Marist Institute, the artist behind hits like "Shake It Off" and "Bad Blood" is credited with 70% favorable opinions among Americans.

A figure that Joe Biden, for whom she voted in 2020, can only dream of for himself: the Democrat's popularity rating, in decline since the start of his mandate, now stands at just under 40%. favorable opinions according to poll aggregator FiveThirtyEight.

Could Taylor Swift revive Joe Biden by calling to support him in 2024? The presidential candidate's campaign team is sure of it.

“Thank you for not telling us that we need a Taylor Swift strategy. We are following the file,” joked an executive from Biden’s team on Wednesday, sharing a job description for the campaign.

(to be continued)

Taylor Swift and her fans

Above all, I like Taylor Swift because she seems to be the nicest star in the world with her fans. Last year, she sent some of them Christmas presents and monitored their social media accounts to observe their reactions (spoiler alert: they were good).

She defended Lucy, one of her admirers who was mocked and insulted because of her physique, in a video where she opened the package sent by her idol.

Taylor also featured some of her fans in the music video for Shake It Off. She speaks to them with great affection on her Twitter account, helps them when she can, meets them as soon as she can, interacts with them as much as possible. A Telegraph article lists ten monstrously cool things she did for her audience.

That's what I like so much about her, she doesn't act blasé: she assumes being happy with everything that happens to her, the awards she wins, the people who adore her music and her personality, she assumes to want to dance when music excites her, even if she dances “badly”… She tries to give back with all the enthusiasm in the world what she collects and damn, it's a pleasure to see.

I think we have so much to learn from Taylor Swift, in terms of trusting ourselves and others.

Be my Sistah, come, we'll laugh together, we'll make big meals and stupid selfies on Instagram, we'll respond to the annoying people on social media who annoy your fans and it will be good.

A Taylor Swift fan is suing Delta Air Lines after she was sexually assaulted on a flight.

A Taylor Swift woman-fan is suing Delta Air Lines after claiming she was sexually assaulted on a flight last year, Newsweek reported.

The incident occured in the moment the woman was flying from Phoenix to Seattle on her way back from attending a Taylor Swift concert.

According to a press release from Mark Lindquist Law, Duane Brick, 53, who was a Delta mechanic at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact in March, During the flight, he admitted, he had taken the victim's hand and placed it on his crotch, per the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington.

He also reached under her shirt and groped her breast while she appeared to be asleep, per the Attorney's Office statement. Brick now faces up to two years in prison.

Delta is facing another lawsuit from the family of a 13-year-old girl who was also sexually assaulted on a flight.

The suit claimed Delta staff "enabled" the assault by allowing the "visibly intoxicated" offender, Brian Patrick Durning, to board the flight and serving him alcohol throughout.

Kate Middleton: the touching message of support received by an 8-year-old girl

After being saddened by the news of her cancer, Kate Middleton received many messages of support, including a particularly touching wink.

Kate Middleton can count on the support of a faithful friend aged eight years: Mila Sneddon. The story of friendship between the two women began in 2020 when the photo of a young girl, suffering from leukemia, stuck at home during the Covid-19 crisis created a buzz. An image that moved the Princess of Wales who wanted to meet the young Scottish girl. Their first meeting took place in the tea room at Holyroodhouse. Kate then wore a pink outfit, little Mila's favorite color. An interview preceding the invitation of the little girl by the wife of Prince William to attend and read a prayer during the Christmas concert at Westminster Abbey.

Kate Middleton, attached to the story of this little Scottish girl, had also made a point of sending a handwritten letter to Mila Sneddon, two years ago, when she had entered the remission stage.

A PARTICULARLY TOUCHING MESSAGE

Faced with the support received at the time, the young girl in turn wanted to provide hers to the Princess of Wales following the announcement of her cancer, this Friday March 22. “You will be courageous because I was and you will fight like I did,” said the young girl in her message, saddened by the news.

The girl's mother told the Sunday Mirror: “We were out shopping when we heard the news. Mila turned to me and said she wanted to send Kate a card. Mila will therefore make contact in her own way. »

Inspiration: Taylor Swift Easter Baskets

For people having a Swiftie in the family, a perfect way  to add extra fun to the Easter holiday is creating a Taylor Swift Easter basket theme. From cozy slippers and fun fashion accessories to activity books, there’s something for fans of every age. 

Our advice: Use this Taylor Swift Easter basket filler gift guide to inspire your shopping this spring.

Eras Tour Friendship Bracelets

This set of adorable stacking Eras Tour friendship bracelets showcases one design for all of Taylor Swift’s albums featured in her most recent concerts. Your little Swifties can show off their favorite eras or trade with friends. The stone beads and braided design stand up to frequent wear, and each bracelet stretches for a more comfortable fit. Each set comes with 11 bracelets, which are perfectly sized to fill plastic Easter eggs for your child’s basket.

Taylor Swift Photo Bookmarks

This is a second opportunity. Inspire your Swiftie’s love of reading with these Taylor Swift photo bookmarks. Images of the pop star add a fun look to each one, and long tassels make it easy to mark any spot in a favorite book. They come in a set of five, so they can be spread out in an Easter basket between eggs and other trinkets. Each bookmark measures 6 inches x 2 inches to fit perfectly in paperbacks or hardcover books, plus they’re cute enough to use as locker decorations. If you are gifting books for Easter, this set makes a perfect companion gift!

Taylor Swift will ejoy childhood on Easter

Taylor Swift may be about 34 years old, but she can also revert to childhood very quickly. 

NEXT Sunday, March 31, she probably will be with her boyfriend Travis Kelce or will celebrate Easter Easter but with her family. The opportunity for the singer of 'Shake It Off' and 'Blank Space' to remember a big egg hunt and descovering colors

Searching for chocolate eggs in the garden, is an important tradition for many families.

Crazy egg hunt for Taylor Swift

Even at 34, the star of Shake It Off and Blank Space wouldn't miss this moment with his loved ones for anything. And when she looks for the eggs, the pretty blonde doesn't do things by halves. 

For sure, she will run and look in all directions to collect as many chocolate eggs as possible but above all to beat her brother, Austin, 32 years old.  Many times, Taylor Swift even grabs the younger brother to destabilize him. 

To believe that the pop star has really enjoy to return to childhood!

“Is this a joke!?” : big hiccup for Taylor Swift concerts in Paris

On May 9, Taylor Swift will launch the European part of her record-breaking tour "The Eras Tour". 

Cocorico, it is at Paris La Défense Arena that the pop superstar will set down for four exceptional concerts until May 12. A real event since it is his first real show in France, excluding special events, since a Zénith in 2011! The wait is high since these will also be his first dates after the release of his new album "The Tortured Poets Department", expected on April 19. And fans are all asking the question: will Taylor Swift add a part dedicated to this new record to this concert which already lasts 3 hours 20 minutes? It is on the evening of May 9 that the 40,000 precious ticket holders will discover it.

“Pecress!!!”

The arrival of Taylor Swift in France is such an event that it generates some bad news. Starting with the price of hotels, which explodes in every city it passes through. In Lyon, where she will give two concerts at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon on June 2 and 3, hotel professionals have increased the price of a night by 54%! In Paris, another disappointment awaits the Parisian public. Indeed, a branch of the RER A will be interrupted from May 8 to 12, at the exact moment when Taylor Swift's four concerts take place at Paris La Défense Arena. The Chatou-Croissy station will be completely closed and spectators wishing to go to the concert via Saint-Germain-en-Laye or Le Vésinet, or return home, will not be able to do so since the RER A terminus will be at Rueil- Bad house. You will have to take a special substitute bus or walk!

And this interruption annoys some fans, who wonder how they will be able to get to Paris La Défense Arena or even return home. “It’s a joke”, “Oh no!! It’s right on my RER line!!! », “The choice of the date of the work... PECRESS!!! » some people get angry on X / Twitter while others point out that the dates of the work are determined well in advance. This case recalls the interruption of the RER B on the weekends of the concerts which took place at the Stade de France in the summer of 2022. If the shows of Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers or Indochine were maintained, Soprano had had to postpone his to the summer of 2023, given the impossibility for spectators to come and leave the stadium with the RER B, then closed for work.

The Port of Baltimore is like the Taylor Swift of U.S. auto ports

If we think deeper, the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is going to impact in that space of America more than just traffic. Statistics say that Baltimore’s port supports more than 150,000 jobs - 15,000 of them through direct employment. Its contribution to the economy each day means millions of dollars 

Tinglong Dai, a business professor at Johns Hopkins University, simply explains the port’s importance in pop culture terms: “The Port of Baltimore is like the Taylor Swift of U.S. auto ports. 

“I do expect the Port of Baltimore to be able to recover relatively quickly,” Dai said. “I don't see the Port of Baltimore being replaced anytime soon. And it's if anything, it has been one of the rare success stories in the past few years. We have seen a lot of upgrades and a lot of improvements on the investments from the federal government, from the state of Maryland.”

If the Port of Baltimore port could be reopened in less than a year, Baltimore’s Key Bridge rebuild, including  the effects on transportation and the timeframe, could take a decade.

Commenting the whole frame, professor Tinglong Dai's final conclusion is also related to Taylor Swift

Much like Swift, he said that when the port’s not working, economies feel it.