Pop Stars' 'Eras' Obsession: From Taylor Swift's Tour to Charli XCX's Rock Pivot

A New Yorker essay examines the current pop music trend of measuring careers in 'eras,' as exemplified by Taylor Swift's Eras Tour and Charli XCX's recent pivot to rock. Charli XCX, after the 'Brat Summer' phenomenon, released 'Rock Music,' the first single from her upcoming album 'Music, Fashion, Film,' signaling the end of that era. The song, with its metallic stutter on 'rock,' tests fans' willingness to accept her new direction. The essay also discusses the Backstreet Boys' residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Jay-Z's anniversary concerts at Yankee Stadium, and Olivia Rodrigo's fans' resistance to her growth. It traces the 'era' concept to Madonna and Lady Gaga, and notes Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, which ran 149 performances, caused seismic vibrations, and led to her buying back her masters from Shamrock Capital. The tour's nonlinear structure was described by Swift as feeling like 'scrolling in an algorithm.' The essay also covers the Weeknd's After Hours til Dawn Tour, Katy Perry's Lifetimes Tour, and Ariana Grande's Eternal Sunshine Tour, which features a narrative about erasing painful memories, reflecting on her own tragedies. The piece concludes with Charli XCX's new songs embracing an endless apocalypse, and references Fredric Jameson and Joshua Clover.