Singapore-exclusive deal with Taylor Swift not 'unfriendly' to neighbours, says PM Lee

SINGAPORE — Singapore's exclusive concert deal with Taylor Swift was not "unfriendly" to neighbouring countries, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday (March 5) during a visit to Melbourne.

"Our agencies negotiated an arrangement with her to come to Singapore and perform, and to make Singapore her only stop in Southeast Asia," Mr Lee said.

"It has turned out to be a very successful arrangement."

The exclusive arrangement became a talking point in the region after Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said last month that Singapore had brokered a deal with the US pop star.

A lawmaker in the Philippines later expressed unhappiness about Singapore's deal and reportedly said "this isn't what good neighbours do".

At a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday, Mr Lee was asked about the deal and whether it undermines the spirit of cooperation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

Mr Lee said the singer-songwriter received incentives from Singapore's tourism recovery fund, which was created to revive the sector after the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I do not see that as being unfriendly," he said. "Sometimes one country makes a deal, sometimes another country does. I do not explicitly say you will come here, only on condition that you will go other places."

Noting that Swift also performed in Sydney, Mr Lee said he is sure that "mutually acceptable, sensible arrangements were made".

If an agreement results in an outcome that is mutually beneficial, Mr Lee said he does not see why a deal should not be made. He added that from Singapore's perspective, it serves not only to grow the economy but also to bring in visitors and goodwill from all over the region.

"If we had not made such an arrangement, would she have come to someplace else in Southeast Asia or more places in Southeast Asia? Maybe, maybe not. These are things that she will decide," he said.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong told CNA last week that the amount paid for the exclusive Singapore deal was "nowhere as high" as reported.

CNA understands that the figure is closer to US$2 million (S$2.7 million) to US$3 million for all six shows, rather than that amount per show, which the Thai Prime Minister cited.

Swift has done three shows in Singapore so far and will play three more in the coming days, with the final concert scheduled for Saturday. Many fans from countries in the region travelled to Singapore to catch her performances.

Hotels and airlines saw demand spike up to 30 per cent around the dates of her concerts. One analyst estimated that the shows could generate as much as A$1.2 billion (S$1.04 billion), which is the economic value that she reportedly brought to Melbourne.

In parliament on Monday, Mr Tong said revenue generated from events such as Swift's concerts is used for "highly impactful social events".

Sports Hub's operator, Kallang Alive Sport Management (KASM), wants deals that bring about impact beyond economic returns, he said.

For example, KASM retains some tickets for certain concerts to give to beneficiaries from lower-income or at-risk families.

"To us, it is equally important that we have social return," he added. CNA