The Eras Tour is Taylor Swift’s current concert tour in support of her latest albums Midnights, Evermore, Folklore, Lover, Reputation, 1989, and Red. The tour began on March 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona and is scheduled to conclude on August 9, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. With over 50 shows planned across the United States, the Eras Tour is slated to be Swift’s longest tour to date.
Many fans are wondering if the Eras Tour will be available to stream on Hulu so they can experience the magic of a Taylor Swift concert even if they can’t attend in person. At this time, there has been no official announcement from Swift’s team or Hulu regarding plans to stream the Eras Tour. However, given Hulu’s history of streaming major concert events, there is a possibility that parts of the tour could end up on the platform.
Hulu’s History of Streaming Major Concert Tours
While the Eras Tour has not yet been confirmed for Hulu, the streaming service has established itself as a go-to destination for major concert events in recent years. Here are some examples:
- In 2018, Hulu live-streamed performances from Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour in Arlington, Texas. This marked the first time Swift’s tour was made available via live stream.
- Hulu live-streamed the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in both 2018 and 2019, providing fans with performances from major headlining acts like Phish, Childish Gambino, Post Malone, and Cardi B.
- In 2019, Hulu and Live Nation partnered to stream Lizzo’s Cuz I Love You Too tour stop at The Warfield in San Francisco.
- Hulu streamed the 2021 Global Citizen Live concert event, which featured performances from artists like Billie Eilish, BTS, Coldplay, and more.
Based on Hulu’s track record of major concert streaming deals, it’s not unreasonable to think the platform could seek to add parts of Taylor’s record-breaking Eras tour to their content library. Live shows represent a major opportunity in the streaming space, and Hulu has been proactive in securing exclusive rights.
Factors That Could Influence Hulu Streaming the Eras Tour
There are several key factors that may increase or decrease the likelihood of Hulu adding Eras Tour content:
Rights Deals
Hulu would need to successfully negotiate the rights with Swift’s management team and concert promoter Live Nation. These types of deals can get extremely complex. Hulu may be interested but unable to reach an agreement.
Demand
The Eras Tour is shaping up to be Swift’s biggest tour ever. Demand from fans to stream the shows could motivate Hulu to make a strong play for rights. However, if interest is mild, Hulu may not see a streaming deal as worthwhile.
Competition from Other Platforms
Rivals like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, and Netflix could also pursue Eras Tour streaming rights. Exclusivity will be key in driving a large rights deal. Hulu may have to outbid competitors if they want the tour.
Taylor Swift’s Preferences
Most importantly, Swift has complete control over how her tour is distributed for streaming. If she wants to contain it to her own platforms or offer it to the highest bidder, Hulu would have limited leverage in negotiations. Swift’s personal preferences will determine if a Hulu deal can happen.
Prediction on Hulu Streaming the Eras Tour
Taking all of these factors into account, here is my prediction on the chances of Hulu streaming parts of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour:
Chance of Full Tour Streaming: Low
I think it’s unlikely Swift’s entire tour makes it to Hulu. Allowing constant streaming access could dampen ticket sales and demand for any potential concert film. Swift will likely limit full tour availability.
Chance of Select Concert Streams: Moderate
There is a decent possibility Hulu could stream a few select tour dates, similar to the Reputation deal. Prime options could be major stops like the tour opener, Allegiant Stadium shows, and international dates. This allows some streaming without disrupting the overall tour earning potential.
Chance of Post-Tour Concert Film: High
I predict a concert film covering the Eras Tour is very likely to end up on Hulu. After the tour concludes, an on-demand film would drive major subscriber interest without cutting into ticket sales. Previous Swift concert films have found streaming success, making this a win-win scenario.
Ways Fans Can Stream the Eras Tour
While the odds of getting the full Eras Tour seem low, Swifties still have options to stream parts of the tour experience:
YouTube Fan Footage
Fans frequently post their own tour videos on YouTube. While not professional quality, it does provide a taste of the show. Searching “[Tour Name] full concert” will often yield results.
Sling TV
Certain tour dates will likely air on broadcast TV. Services like Sling TV can provide live and on-demand access to major networks airing concerts, such as ABC for GMA.
Apple Music
There is a chance Apple Music could secure exclusivity for tour streaming given their close business relationship with Swift. Apple Music has streamed major concert events in the past.
TikTok
Clips from the Eras Tour will inevitably end up on TikTok. Fans can get quick snippets of performances trending on TikTok after each show.
Future Hulu-Swift Streaming Possibilities
Even if the Eras Tour doesn’t make it to Hulu, there are other potential Swift projects the platform could stream in the future:
- Re-recordings: Swift’s re-recorded albums could be accompanied by Hulu visual components (music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, etc.)
- Live album: A recorded live album from the tour seems very plausible. Hulu could obtain streaming rights.
- Speak Now re-record: If Swift decides to re-record Speak Now next, Hulu could stream an official concert film of that tour.
- Non-tour documentary: Hulu and Swift could partner on a documentary film covering another aspect of her life and career.
While nothing is guaranteed, Hulu seems likely to continue exploring streaming options within the Swift universe. Both parties recognize the huge fan interest that exclusive content would drive on the platform.
Conclusion
In summary, while the full Eras Tour seems unlikely to stream on Hulu, there is a moderate chance fans may get access to select concert dates. Additionally, a post-tour concert film feels very plausible given Hulu’s past success distributing major touring acts. If a Hulu-Swift deal doesn’t happen this time, the two parties will almost certainly collaborate on exclusive streaming content in the future. Both recognize the tremendous upside of tapping into Swift’s devoted fanbase. For now, fans must largely rely on scattered unofficial YouTube clips, Sling TV broadcasts, TikTok snippets, and word-of-mouth FOMO to get a picture of the Eras Tour experience. But with Swift’s career on an upwards trajectory, it likely won’t be too long until her next history-making concert experience is made available to fans worldwide via streaming.