Global pop sensation Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour shows the economic benefits of hosting such top-level performers, Shanghai government counsellors have said. Photo: AFP

Government advisers in China’s financial hub call to relax regulations around international acts to cash in on top-level shows

Advisers to the Shanghai government have called for restrictions on international performers to be relaxed, while likening superstars like Taylor Swift to “walking GDP”.
China’s financial hub has hosted many large-scale, commercial performances in recent years, but “it lacks stars that are weighty, internationally influential or truly appealing to young people”, the counsellors’ office of the Shanghai municipal government said in an article posted on its official WeChat account.

Attracting a better range of high-quality performances would help Shanghai to lure both domestic and international audiences, counsellors Li An, Gu Honghui and Zhang Wenyi wrote in the article.

Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour showed the economic benefits of hosting such top-level performers, they said.

“This is the largest and highest-grossing personal concert tour in history, having generated over US$5 billion in consumer spending so far. It is literally a ‘walking GDP’,” the counsellors wrote.

They suggested drawing inspiration from Singapore and Japan’s performance models, warning that Shanghai’s existing regulations around international performances were limiting the potential to attract top-tier talent.

Hosting international performances in China is a complex process that involves navigating countless regulations and restrictions. The Chinese government has historically been cautious about granting permission for large-scale events, especially those involving foreign artists, due to concerns over cultural influence and security control.

Government departments should streamline approvals, visas, customs and other logistical challenges, the counsellors proposed.
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They also called for increased venue capacity and flexible ticket pricing.

“Key factors that would attract foreign tourists to Shanghai are looser entry policies, streamlined visa procedures and diverse payment methods. For large-scale events, the ease of ticket purchase is also a crucial factor in determining the audience’s viewing experience,” they wrote.

The counsellors proposed that the requirement for real-name ticket purchases be loosened, and suggested exploring alternative identification methods – such as account-based or bank card payments – to simplify the process for international visitors.

The call comes amid a new trend in China of “travelling for a show”, where fans – particularly young people – will travel to other cities for big concerts or shows, driving local tourism and consumer spending.

Growth in the performance industry rocketed last year, amid a huge rebound in consumer demand for live entertainment.

Total box office revenue for large concerts – those with audiences over 5,000 – hit a record high, reaching nearly 14.6 billion yuan (US$2 billion), according to a report released in April by the China Performance Industry Association, concert producer Damai, and social media platform Weibo.

Notably, those “travelling for a show” accounted for 68 per cent of attendees – a new high – the report said.

Already a bustling hub for cultural events, Shanghai has seen a surge in demand for live performances.

Shanghai’s large-scale concerts took the top spot nationwide in the April box office report, while theatrical performances ranked third. The city also ranked among the top five in the number of shows hosted.