In 2025, global pop tours are drawing unprecedented crowds – and cash – across Australia. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour made headlines for its economic impact, but she’s far from the only one. Ed Sheeran and Billie Eilish have also drawn massive audiences in recent years, fuelling a live music boom that has ripple effects through tourism, hospitality and media. But as the glitter settles, many in the local music and arts industries are asking: are these tours boosting the ecosystem, or eclipsing it?
Ed Sheeran’s Mathematics Tour in 2023 also broke records, selling over 830,000 tickets across the country. Billie Eilish, meanwhile, performed to capacity crowds at venues including Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney and Brisbane Entertainment Centre, with fans lining up hours in advance for merchandise drops and limited edition souvenirs.
