Ever since Taylor Swift’s Eras tour took the music and concert industry by storm in 2023, there is an increasing demand that concertgoers can not seem to get over. Fans are leaving stadium shows and venues with disappointment and frustration as they ask the same entitled question: “Why was the setlist only 90 minutes?” 

It’s clear that the standard for live music and seeing your favorite artists has shifted after one of the biggest pop stars chose to perform 46 songs, spanning three hours and covering music from all corners of her discography. 

But now, audiences are expecting every touring artist to deliver the same marathon performance,  and they completely miss the point of why artists tour in the first place, which is typically to promote newer releases. 

The Eras Tour was an intricately planned tour that was designed as a reflection on the decades of work and music Swift has put into the industry. It was like a career victory lap. 

On the other hand, most artists hit the road for a much simpler reason – they dropped new music and simply wanted to share it. 

Not a mandatory career recap

Take Ariana Grande’s highly anticipated Eternal Sunshine Tour. After a seven-year hiatus, she has hit the stage hard with a 23-song setlist, just under two hours of music. The show prioritizes her new material and even includes her newest single release, “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” from her new album “Petal,” set to be released in July. 

Instead of appreciating Grande’s attention to detail, fans expressed disappointment all over social media because nothing from 2018 album “Sweetener” and other albums didn’t make the cut. 

Concerts should be a snapshot of an artist’s current self, not a mandatory career recap. 

Furthermore, expecting three hours of performance ignores the physical reality of these musicians. Belting out vocals, executing choreography and maintaining their energetic stage presence is not possible for many. Artists visit multiple cities when on tour, and very few artists have the stamina or even catalog of music that Taylor Swift has to sustain performances. 

A shorter show does not indicate a lack of effort or thought – it means the artist put forward certain pieces with the intention to share their creations with genuine fans.

Instead of complaining, fans need to adjust their expectations, enjoy the new music and stop asking for a marathon when an artist is giving us a showcase. 

Kayla Lee is a member of the class of 2028 at Cupertino High School.

Editor’s note: This story is part of the annual Mosaic Journalism Program for Bay Area high school students, an intensive course in journalism. Students in the program report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.