The publisher behind the songwriting copyrights to some of the most popular music ever recorded doesn’t think AI spells doom for the industry.
According to Bloomberg’s analysis of Taylor Swift’s public assets, she’s now “one of the few entertainers” to achieve billionaire status based almost entirely on her music, merch, and live performances. Swift’s Eras Tour is projected to become the highest-grossing solo tour in history.
Bloomberg’s article is worth reading if only to appreciate the cute bead-bracelet graphics that are used to illustrate Swift’s staggering wealth.
Swifties and the Swift-curious (and probably some mix of obligated parents) reportedly pushed Taylor Swift’s theatrical release of her concert tour film to between $95 million and $97 million.
Variety reported that AMC says it can’t be more exact with its projections “without clear comparisons.” Rival theaters think the number is closer to $94 million, according to the outlet.
Either way, that’s a lot of money for a concert film and keeps it in the same territory as Joker’s October box office opening weekend record of about $96 million.
Variety reported this morning that Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour came this close to breaking another record yesterday, reportedly notching the second-biggest October box office opening day ever at $39 million.
Joker keeps its $39.3 million October opening day record, while the Venom: Let There Be Carnage first-day take of $37.4 million drops it to number three.
Swifties are legion.
The person behind that hit AI Drake song “Heart on My Sleeve,” @ghostwriter977 on TikTok, is making what (I think?) is his first public appearance at Bloomberg’s Screentime conference in Los Angeles. He’s in disguise and speaking through a voice distorter, which is pretty good theater as far as business conferences go.
“Honestly, this is bigger than me,” he tells the crowd when asked why he wants to say anonymous. “AI is going to be a big part of our future and we need to prepare... it’s not about who I am.”
He calls “Heart on My Sleeve,” which garnered millions of views before it was taken offline at the request of Drake’s label, Universal Music Group, “an experiment,” and says he “won’t be uploading music again without participation of the talent.”
When didn’t he just ask Drake for permission beforehand? “I don’t have Drake’s phone number.”
