Research Confirms Taylor Swift Enthusiasts Triggered Seismic Activity at L.A. 'Eras Tour' Show

Study Finds Swifties Created an Earthquake

Don Arnold/TAS24/Getty Images

A new study reveals that Taylor Swift’s fans caused a seismic event during one of her Los Angeles concerts last year, taking “Shake It Off” to the next level.

Caltech seismologist Gabrielle Tepp, who led the study, shared in an interview with The Los Angeles Times that concerts are known to create harmonic signals, but the reason behind it has not always been clear. Tepp expressed interest in determining the cause of these signals.

Tepp and her team recently published a report titled “Shake to the Beat: Exploring the Seismic Signals and Stadium Response of Concerts and Music Fans.”

The study showcased that during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour at SoFi Stadium in August 2023, 70,000 enthusiastic fans, known as Swifties, caused seismic activity with their energetic jumping and dancing, resulting in “distinct harmonic tremors.”

Researchers placed motion sensors over 5.5 miles away from the venue on the fifth night of Swift's residency to gather data. This information was later analyzed using spectrograms, which are graphs that track wavelength frequencies.

Among all the songs Swift performed during the show, the data showed that "Shake It Off" had the highest local magnitude of 0.85. Following closely behind was "Love Story," which also had a noteworthy amplitude.

The L.A. show wasn’t the first time the Grammy winner caused a "Swift-quake." According to CNN, her July 2023 performance at Seattle’s Lumen Field also resulted in seismic activity, creating an "equivalent of a 2.3 magnitude earthquake."

Swift's Era Tour started in Glendale, Arizona, in March 2023. Since then, she has traveled across the United States, performing for over three hours each night and surprising fans with new acoustic songs. She has also taken her tour internationally, visiting South America, Japan, Singapore, and Australia.

Swift's concerts set new attendance records and made history as the highest-grossing music tour ever, surpassing $1 billion in revenue, according to Guinness World Records.

Currently, Swift is enjoying a well-deserved break before her Eras Tour continues in Europe in May. She is currently vacationing in The Bahamas with her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.

The couple was seen enjoying a vacation on an island on Monday, March 18, as shown in photos posted on the gossip blog Deux Moi.

Apart from their travels, Swift has also been busy creating new music. Her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, is set to be released on April 19.

Editor's P/S:

The study highlights the undeniable impact of music on our physical world. Taylor Swift's energetic performances have generated seismic tremors, revealing the powerful connection between fan enthusiasm and the environment. The research, led by seismologist Gabrielle Tepp, sheds light on the previously unexplained harmonic signals associated with concerts. It demonstrates that the collective energy of thousands of fans can translate into measurable seismic activity, adding a new dimension to the immersive experience of live music.

Furthermore, the article underscores the remarkable success of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. The tour has broken attendance records and set new benchmarks for music revenue, solidifying Swift's status as a global icon. Swift's ability to captivate audiences through her music and engage them in an extraordinary live experience is a testament to her exceptional artistry and the enduring power of entertainment. evolution, has cemented her legacy as one of the most influential artists of our time.