The Economics of Taylor Swift

In April 2024, Forbes placed Taylor Swift on its Celebrity Billionaires list for the first time, estimating her wealth at $1.1 billion. In 2023, Swift’s “Era’s” tour had estimated revenue of $900 million from tickets and $130 million from merchandise. 

These are not isolated events, but are the result of Swift’s disciplined approach over many years to develop revenue generating assets and upend entertainment industry norms by reduce the financial role of intermediaries. 

The webcast will first explore the types of rights that determine ownership and revenues, and then discuss how royalties are collected and paid. We will then examine the business valuation of music catalogs. Finally, we will discuss how Swift’s understanding of the key revenue drivers in the music industry has helped her to generate immense wealth and set her up to provide multiple profitable revenue streams in the future. 

This webcast is applicable for accounting and finance professionals at every level of public, governmental, and private practice.