tour virtual bernabeu

ÚNETE A LA MAYOR COMUNIDAD MADRIDISTA

Interactúa con millones de seguidores y aficionados del Real Madrid en cualquier parte del mundo usando tú móvil, tablet, ordenador y compártelo con tus redes sociales

VISITA EL TOUR BERNABEÚ

Recorre todas las instalaciones del Estadio Santiago Bernabéu y comenta en tiempo real con millones de seguidores y aficionados en todo el mundo la historia del equipo presente en cada una de las salas del museo blanco

DISFRUTA DE LA EXPERIENCIA EN REALIDAD VIRTUAL

Podrás disfrutar de la experiencia pionera de poder recorrer todo el Tour Bernabéu en 3D y VR. Tecnología ofrecida por Astosch Technology

COMPITE EN FANTÁSTICOS MINIJUEGOS

Crea tu propio equipo y compite con la mayor comunidad de fans del mundo en divertidisimos y adictivos minijuegos de fútbol y baloncesto con los que podrás ganar miles de fantásticos premios cada semana

Vive la historia del mejor club del mundo

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Santiago Bernabeu Stadium Tours

Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of the venue, offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction. This is not the venue's website.

• Tickets to Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and Museum
• Head to the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium with this ticket that gives you access to the site.
• Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Real Madrid C.F, awarded the FIFA Best Club of the 20th Century Trophy.
• Exploring one of Madrid's most iconic museums and stadiums at your own pace.
• Housing 14 Champions League trophies, numerous La Liga titles, and several Copa del Rey triumphs, this tour is a real treat for true football fanatics.
• Witness the ambitious transformation of the iconic Santiago Bernabeu into arguably one of the greatest stadiums in the world.
• Flexible/timed entry to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
• Flexible/timed entry into the Real Madrid C.F Museum
• Access to the trophy room
• Access to the official store
• Drones are strictly prohibited. Guests who enter with drones will be denied entry.
• On account of the construction work at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, the tour route will be temporarily disrupted. Apologize for any inconvenience.
• Panoramic view will be unavailable from 5:30pm on 13th Sept.

On match days, the tour is open until 5 hours before kick-off.

• These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

• Combo (Save 5%): Atlético Madrid Stadium Tour + Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Tickets
• Get the most out of your money with this special combo ticket that allows you to visit both the Atlético Madrid Stadium and the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
• Unveil Atlético Madrid's stadium and museum secrets with flexible tickets, skipping the lines to access key areas on the stadium tour.
• Step into the new Atleti Territory, a 1,400 square-meter interactive museum, and relive unforgettable moments from Atlético's history.
• Gain direct access to the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium with this ticket and witness the prestigious home of Real Madrid C.F.
• Witness Santiago Bernabéu's transformation into one of the world's greatest stadiums and explore the legacy of Real Madrid, FIFA Best Club of the 20th Century.

Atlético Madrid Stadium

• Skip-the-line entry to Cívitas Metropolitano Stadium tour
• Skip-the-line entry to Atleti Territory Museum

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium

• Direct access to the Santiago Bernabéu tour
• Panoramic view of the stadium
• Entry into the Real Madrid C.F Museum and access to the trophy room
• Tip: Check out the Wall of Legends, where you can see the plaques of Atlético Madrid's greatest players and relive their remarkable achievements
• On a match day, the tour will be closed 5 hours prior to the match.
• Tip: Capture panoramic views of the stadium and the Madrid skyline from the upper levels, providing a stunning backdrop for memorable photos.
• Scheduling and routes are subject to change without notice.
• Due to security reasons, storage facilities for luggage, pushchairs, buggies, etc. will not be provided.
• Note that the following are not allowed on this tour: Large bags, pets, drones.
• The experience is not accessible for wheelchair users, pram/stroller users.
• Please note that due to ongoing redevelopment at the Santiago Bernabéu, there have been modifications to the classic tour route. The revised itinerary now encompasses a panoramic view of the currently under-construction Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, a comprehensive tour of the Real Madrid C.F. Museum, and an opportunity to visit the official store.

Combo (Save 10%): 1 or 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Madrid Bus Tour + Santiago Bernabeu Stadium Tour

• With this cost-saving combo, explore iconic sites in Madrid with a 1 or 2-day hop-on hop-off pass and gain timed-entry access to Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
• Explore key landmarks such as Puerta de Alcalá, a monumental gate, and the Temple of Debod, a 2nd-century BC Egyptian temple, with the pass.
• With buses departing every 7 to 15 mins, make use of the 14-language audio guide, complimentary discount booklets, a tour map, and Wi-Fi onboard.
• For football enthusiasts, the Santiago Stadium tour is a delight, showcasing 14 Champions League trophies, several La Liga titles, and Copa del Rey triumphs.
• Enjoy a panoramic stadium view and explore an extensive collection of club memorabilia, including kits, boots, and gear during your visit.

Madrid Hop-On Hop-Off

• 1/2-day unlimited HOHO pass
• Audioguide in Spanish, Catalan, Gallego, Euskera, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, and Japanese
• Discount booklets for shops and restaurants
• Hop-on hop-off tour map

Santiago Stadium

• Timed entry to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
• Timed entry into the Real Madrid C.F Museum
• Entrance Fees for attractions

Blue Route: Historical Madrid

• First bus: 10am from Museo del Prado
• Last bus: 6pm
• Popular stops: Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, Prado Museum
• Click here for a detailed Blue Route map and its boarding points.

Green Route: Modern Madrid

• First bus: 10am from Plaza de Neptuno
• Popular stops: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Plaza de Castilla, Plaza de Cibeles
• Click here for a detailed Green Route map and its boarding points.
• Tip: Adjacent to Plaza de Cibeles, explore Retiro Park for a serene stroll, boat rides on the lake, or roam around the beautiful gardens.
• Facilities: Wheelchair accessibility, Free Wi-Fi, Audio guide, Complimentary audio headsets.
• On the days when the tours are canceled, due to traffic interruptions, passengers will be informed through notices at bus stops.
• Family tickets are available only for the 1 Day bus tour ticket.
• Tip: Stadium stroll alert! Find iconic sections with captivating views—perfect for striking memorable photos.

Top things to do in Madrid

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium | Home to Real Madrid FC

The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium is home to Real Madrid FC, one of the most successful football clubs in history, the stadium has seen the likes of Zidane, Ronaldo, Benzema, Ramos, and many more score several spectacular and memorable goals.  Book your Real Madrid stadium tour to be a part of the club’s rich history.

Note: Please note that due to Santiago Bernabeu's renovation work , the classic tour has been updated to a new route. This revised itinerary now included a real madrid museum tour, visit to the official store, and a panoramic view of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, which is currently undergoing construction. Secure your Santiago Bernabeu Stadium tickets now!

Things to know before booking your Santiago Bernabeu tour

• Please note that Santiago Bernabeu construction is ongoing, resulting in a new route. This updated Real Madrid Stadium tour includes a visit to the museum, the official store, and a panoramic view of the entire Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
• If you wish to see other attractions in Madrid and are worried about parking and  transportation consider taking a 1/2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour of Madrid + Santiago Bernabeu Stadium Tour.
• Please note that there are numerous stairs along the route, so it is not possible for wheelchair users to complete the entire Santiago Bernabeu Tour.
• You can plan to take a Real Madrid stadium tour on a matchday, as the tour is open until 5 hours before kick-off. This allows you to experience the vibrant energy of the stadium on a big match day!
• Please check the cancellation policy before booking as certain tickets cannot be cancelled or rescheduled.
• The Santiago Bernabeu renovation is expected to be completed later in 2024. Plan your Real Madrid stadium tour after the Santiago Bernabeu construction to experience the new facilities and the increased Santiago Bernabeu capacity of 85,000, promising a much more exciting visit.

Why visit Santiago Bernabeu stadium

• Modern architecture: The stadium's modern architecture including integration of heating in the stands, panoramic lifts, new restaurants, escalators in the tower access, including the planned 360-degree screen and retractable roof make it interesting for sports and architecture enthusiasts alike.
• Behind-the-scenes access: Visitors can explore areas typically off-limits, including the players' tunnel, VIP lounges, and the Real Madrid dressing rooms, providing an exclusive glimpse into the world of professional football.
• Interactive museum: The on-site museum is a treasure trove of memorabilia, trophies, and interactive exhibits, offering an engaging and educational experience for fans of all ages.
• Panoramic views: The stadium's top tiers offer panoramic views of the city, making it the perfect spot to take in the skyline and enjoy the experience of being at one of the most famous stadiums in Spain. 

Which Santiago Bernabeu tour is best for you?

Please be advised that due to ongoing redevelopment at the Santiago Bernabeu, adjustments have been made to the classic tour. The updated itinerary now features a panoramic view of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, which is currently undergoing construction, followed by a museum tour of Real Madrid C.F. and a visit to the official store.

Flexible entry tickets

Duration: Flexible duration

• Enjoy the flexibility of exploring the Santiago Bernabeu stadium at your own pace and based on your own schedule with these tickets.
• These tickets include entry to Real Madrid Museum and Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Recommended tours :
• Flexible Entry Tickets to Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and Museum

Combo tours

Duration:  Flexible duration

• Explore other popular attractions in Madrid along with Santiago Bernabeu stadium, such as the Legends Museum and Atlético Madrid Stadium allowing you to have an all-around Madrid experience at a budgeted price.
• Enjoy skip-the-line access and guided tours to some of the top attractions in Madrid.

Recommended Tours

• Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and Museum + Legends Museum Tickets
• Combo (Save 10%): 1/2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour of Madrid + Santiago Bernabeu Stadium Tour

What to see on a Santiago Bernabeu tour?

Trophy Room

Known to the fans as the ‘Kings of Europe’ room, this space is dedicated to all the silverware accumulated by the club. Real Madrid FC has won a grand total of 26 trophies – out of which 13 are UEFA Champions League titles. You can also discover player jerseys, photographs, footballs, and more here.

Santiago Bernabeu 21st Century model

Enjoy the unique audio-visual show and get first-hand insight into the stadium's history and find out how the upgraded 21st century model of Santiago Bernabeu Stadium would look like with new towers and upgraded pitch, along with other additions.

Real Madrid FC Official Store

Feel what it is like to be a part of Real Madrid FC by buying official kits, jerseys, accessories, merchandise, and several other souvenirs, and make your tour more memorable by having official items to remember it by.

Player's Tunnel

Experience the excitement as you walk through the player's tunnel and step onto the pitch. This tunnel has witnessed the entrances of legends and aspiring stars, amidst the electrifying cheers of fans.

Interactive Museum

Visit the interactive museum at the stadium and learn all about the club's rich history. Engage with touchscreens, historical artifacts, and multimedia displays.

Plan your visit to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium

The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium is open every day of the week. 

The ticket office is closed between 02:30 pm to 03:30 pm.

• Monday to Saturday: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
• Sundays and other holidays: 10:00 am to 06:30 pm.
• Closed: December 25 and January 1.
• Matchdays : On match days, the tour is open until 5 hours before kick-off.

Address : Av. de Concha Espina, 1, Chamartín, 28036 Madrid, Spain

Find on Map

By Metro: Get off at the Santiago Bernabeu L10 station and walk for 2-3 minutes to get to the stadium.

By Bus: Take buses 14, 27, 40, 43, 120, 126, 147 y and 150 to get to the stadium.

Gift Shop: There is a well-stocked gift shop offering a wide range of Real Madrid merchandise and souvenirs for fans to take home.

Restaurants and Bars: The stadium has multiple restaurants and bars serving a variety of cuisines. Visit Realcafe Bernabeu and B-Restaurant within the stadium.

• Expect thorough security checks at the entrance, including bag inspections. Arrive early to avoid long lines, especially on match days.
• Check the Real Madrid game schedule and calendar before you buy your tickets. Tour times may vary on game days, so it's important to double-check at least 48 hours in advance.
• If you want to see all this amazing stadium has to offer, you should schedule plenty of time for the tour. Although the tour itself only takes 45 minutes, most visitors end up spending between 1 and 1.5 hours exploring the museum.
• Take advantage of photo opportunities on the field level, where you can recreate team poses and more.
• One of the highlights of the tour is the Trophy Room, where you can see the numerous awards and trophies won by Real Madrid over the years. Make sure to allocate enough time to explore this area.

• Realcafe Bernabeu : Located within the stadium, this themed restaurant offers a menu featuring Spanish and international cuisine, including tapas and more 
• Alduccio : Enjoy authentic Italian cuisine in a cozy atmosphere at Alduccio, located conveniently near the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
• Ornella Caleido : Experience contemporary Mediterranean dishes with a creative twist at Ornella Caleido, just a short walk from the stadium.
• Malvon Bernabeu : Savor delicious Argentine empanadas and other specialties at Malvon Bernabeu, perfect for a quick bite before or after the Santiago Bernabeu tour.

• Budget Hotels: Hotel NH Madrid Zurbano ( Approx. 2.4 km from Santiago Bernabeu Stadium )
• Mid-Range Hotels : H10 Tribeca ( Approx. 2.7 km from Santiago Bernabeu Stadium )
• Luxury Hotels: AC Hotel Cuzco by Marriott ( Approx. 1.5 km from Santiago Bernabeu Stadium )

Beyond Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

The Legends Museum

The Legends Museum is a football museum created in collaboration with LaLiga, FIFA, UEFA, CONMEBOL, and the IOC. Located at Puerta del Sol, spanning 4,200 square meters across 7 floors, it includes a 4D cinema, game area, and a rooftop restaurant. 

Distance: 5 km

ETA: By Car: 20 minutes

Metropolitano Stadium

The Metropolitano Stadium stands as the proud home of Atletico Madrid since the 2017–18 season. It currently has a seating capacity of 70,460 fans.The Atletico Madrid Stadium Tour offers an unforgettable experience for football enthusiasts of all ages. 

Distance : 10 km

ETA: By Car: 30 minutes

Royal Palace of Madrid

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family, although it is mainly used for state ceremonies. The palace has over 3,400 rooms, making it one of the largest in Europe. Don’t miss the chance to visit one of the most memorable palaces in the world! Distance : 7.5 km

ETA: By Car: 25 minutes

Frequently asked questions about Santiago Bernabeu tours

You can enjoy direct access to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and Real Madrid FC museum.

You cannot cancel, amend or get a refund on your confirmed booking of Santiago Bernabeu tours.

Yes, the tour is suitable for visitors of all ages. However, it's worth noting that some areas may require adult supervision for children under the age of 14, such as accessing certain parts of the stadium or using interactive exhibits in the museum.

Photography is permitted throughout most of the tour areas, but bringing drones, tripods and flash photography and filming are restricted.

Yes, certain items may be prohibited or restricted inside the stadium, such as large bags, food, beverages, and professional camera equipment. It's advisable to check the stadium's guidelines or contact them directly for specific restrictions.

The duration of the tour can vary depending on factors such as crowd size, tour itinerary, and individual pace. On average, the tour usually lasts between 60 to 90 minutes, but visitors are free to explore at their own pace.

It is not recommended as the Santiago Bernabeu tour is not completely wheelchair accessible, there are stairs to climb and wheelchair inaccessible areas.

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Tour

Quick Details

• Globe Region: Europe
• Map Marker Location: Madrid , Spain
• Hour Glass Duration: 1-2 hours
• Tag Tour Type: Shared Tour
• Checkered Flag Meeting Point: `Santiago Bernabeu Stadium´. Stadium Tower C (where the Paseo de la Castellana meets Rafael Salgado street)

Visit the stadium of the best football club of the 20 th century!

With this tour, you will have access to the museum of the Santiago Bernabéu, where you will learn about Real Madrid’s history through audiovisual and interactive content, without forgetting the chance of contemplating the exceptional collection of trophies and other important stuff related to Real Madrid. Also, you will feel like a footballer by visiting the most walked-through places of your favorite players!

You just have to select the date that best suits you, and then you will be able to discover all the secrets that Santiago Bernabéu hides! But bear in mind that there is limited capacity each day, so you must be quick enough to buy the tickets!

You will receive your tickets on your email at least 24h before the selected date and time, which you will need to download on your phone and show it at the access control turnstiles of the Bernabéu Tour, located at Stadium Tower C (where the Paseo de la Castellana meets Rafael Salgado street).

Highlights:

• Stare at the mockup of Santiago Bernabéu
• Take a photo with the Champions Cup (optional purchase)
• Take a look at the panoramic view of the stadium
• Get to know the most outstanding places of Santiago Bernabéu: the box of honor, the changing room of the first team, the players’ tunnel, and the press room
• Entrance to the Bernabeu Stadium
• Access to the museum

Not included:

• Hotel pick-up
• Food & beverages

You must take into account that due to the reformations taking place at the stadium, the tour has experienced modifications. Some of the places cannot be temporarily visited like the pitch, the presidential box, the first team dressing room, the tunnel through which the players enter, and the press room. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Bernabéu Tour

• 5 / 5 9623 reviews

Description

Meeting points.

Discover the history of Real Madrid CF, Come and visit the only place on the planet where you’ll find the 13 Champions League trophies won by the best team of the 20th century.

The visit will start in spectacular fashion. From the second stand you can see the stadium Santigo Bernabéu like never before . From there you’ll get the best photo of the pitch and also you’ll see how the construction of the new retractable roof is progressing. Witness of a historic and unique moment.

Learn about the history of Real Madrid through an audiovisual and interactive journey in which you’ll have access to the best collection of objects and trophies. A unique museum in the world, where you’ll see the 13 European Cups won by the best club of the 20th century.

Through an audiovisual video mapping show, with projection of images on the model, you’ll see how the current stadium becomes the Santiago Bernabéu of the 21st century.

Click here to embark on your virtual journey: Tours Videos

Entry or admission fee CLASSIC Tour Bernabéu

This Tickets includes: Panoramic view Access to the Real Madrid C.F. Museum. Santiago Bernabéu XXI Century scale model. Photomontage with the players (optional). Official Store. Ticket with guaranteed date and time

No service not specified

What do I need to bring?

You can take your printed ticket or on your mobile phone

Please note

On match days, up to 5 hours before the beginning of the game. Free entrance for children under 5 years old The stadium is not fully wheelchair accessible, but wheelchair users can get free access to the trophies exhibition

Cancellation Policy

Free! Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts. If you cancel under this time or do not show up, you will not be refunded.

When to book?

1h before the start of the activity

This ticket allows you to select the date and time of your visit and includes the Real Madrid C.F. Museum which includes access to an exhibition of all the club’s trophies: ‘Legendary players’, audiovisual material relating to the first team, ‘Ballons d’Or’, ‘Shower of goals’, a space dedicated to the basketball team, and the impressive exhibition of the 13 Champion League trophy.

As a new feature , you’ll be able to discover the new  Santiago Bernabéu XXI Century scale model; the window to a great future! Get a first-hand insight into the history of this unique stadium and find out what the Santiago Bernabéu of the 21st century will look like in this amazing audiovidual show.

You simply cannot leave Madrid without visiting one of the city’s most-visited museums!

Due to the construction work being carried out at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the tour is limited to the following areas: Panoramic view of the stadium, Real Madrid CF Museum, photo-montages with players and Official Store.

The entrance is through Tower C of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Avenida de Concha Espina 1 Madrid

Free cancellation

You'll receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance of most experiences

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Marketing ON / OFF Diseño de interiores Visualización arquitectónica

Real Madrid

Descubre el Nuevo Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

El Nuevo Estadio Santiago Bernabéu no es simplemente una obra de ingeniería, sino una declaración de lo que representa el Real Madrid en el mundo del fútbol. Nuestra agencia de marketing está orgullosa de haber contribuido a este proyecto, creando visualizaciones arquitectónicas hiperrealistas, vídeos y brochures comerciales que ayudan a transmitir la esencia del espectacular proyecto.

MARKETING ON/OFF

En el proyecto del nuevo Santiago Bernabéu, hemos trabajado con el máximo respeto hacia la marca Real Madrid, cuidando su identidad y valores en cada pieza de comunicación visual. Desde la creación de materiales digitales hasta los impresos, hemos hecho hincapié en el impacto que la nueva construcción tendría en la ciudad y su contexto urbano, con el objetivo de posicionar al club como líder en innovación y excelencia.

VISUALIZACIÓN ARQUITECTÓNICA

Creamos un recorrido virtual de las áreas exclusivas del estadio Santiago Bernabéu mediante modelado 3D y visualización arquitectónica avanzada. Nuestro enfoque detallado logró una experiencia inmersiva, única y realista que ha sido destacada en diversos medios de comunicación.

DISEÑO DE INTERIORES

Hemos realizado numerosos renders y concept design de diferentes áreas del estadio donde hemos trabajado con el máximo cuidado en cada detalle para asegurar la coherencia con el proyecto arquitectónico y la imagen del Real Madrid. La iluminación fue especialmente trabajada para resaltar la belleza del edificio. Un proyecto de esta magnitud requiere atención a cada aspecto, y nos aseguramos de que cada imagen realizada cumpliera con los más altos estándares de calidad.

Visita el tour virtual

Riddell’s Bay

• Top Attractions

Monuments and Tourist attractions

Santiago bernabéu stadium.

Found on the Paseo de Castellana, the Santiago Bernabéu is the home of Real Madrid FC - loved and hated in equal measure. It is also one of the most visited sights in Madrid, with more than a million visitors per year.

Inaugurated in 1947 as the 'Nuevo Estadio Chamartin' (New Chamartin Stadium), its current name was chosen in honor of Santiago Bernabéu, president of the team for 35 years.

The stadium has a capacity of 80,000 , making it one of the stadiums with the largest capacity in all of Spain. The most fortunate spectators also have the possibility of watching a game from one of the 245 VIP boxes which line the stadium.

Meca for fans

The Santiago Bernabéu is a place that inspires passion and excitement in its visitors ; as the majority are fans of Real Madrid, walking onto the field of play, or passing through the changing rooms just like their idols before each game is a dream come true.

For those with less interest in football, this is perhaps not the best option, but in Madrid, they will have no trouble finding other kinds of activities and tours best aligned with their interests.

Bernabéu Tour

If you want to get to know every corner of the stadium , it's possible to take a tour that allows you to visit the presidential box, the bench, the changing rooms or even walk onto the field of play .

Having toured through the stadium, you can take a look at the trophies and other historical objects the club has accumulated over a long history: shirts, balls, and photographs, as well as an interactive section that teaches about the history of the legendary team and allows you to re-live it's most exciting moments.

You can reserve a tour of the stadium online, to avoid the lines.

• Reserve your tour of the Bernabéu

Stadium Reforms

To maintain its status as one of the premier stadiums worldwide, important reforms to the structure will take place beginning in 2018 and are expected to be   finished in early 2024.

The most important aspects of the reform include a retractable, wrap-around roof giving the new stadium a futuristic style . The changes come with the construction of a luxury hotel, as well as the redevelopment of the public space which surrounds the stadium.

Two Days in Madrid

Avenida de la Concha Espina, 1.

From Monday to Saturday between 9:30 am and 7 pm. Sundays and public holidays between 10 am and 6:30 pm. This schedule is subject to change on game days.

Adults: € 25 ( US$ 27.10). Children 5-14: € 19 ( US$ 20.60). Children under 5: Free

Bernabéu Stadium Tour € 25 ( US$ 27.10)

Metro : Santiago Bernabéu (line 10) Bus : lines 14, 27, 40, 43, 120, 126, 147, 150.

Nearby places

Sorolla Museum (2 km) Madrid Chamartin Train Station (2.3 km) Estación de Chamberí (2.4 km) Cuatro Torres, Madrid (2.7 km) Museum of Romanticism (3.1 km)

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Only Taylor Swift Could Suffer A Full-On Wardrobe Malfunction Onstage And Turn It Into A Cute Interactive Moment With Fans

T aylor Swift knows how to “Shake It Off,” as proven by how she expertly delt a wardrobe and technical malfunction during her Eras Tour show in Stockholm, Sweden. During the surprise songs , the pop star had an issue with her in-ears that resulted in her having to take off part of her dress to fix it while on stage. This ultimately led to a sweet moment she had with her fans, and honestly, only she could have something like this happen and handle it in such an endearing and interactive way. 

After playing her first surprise song – which was the “Max Martin Medly” since the producer was in the audience – you can see Swift touching the back of her dress in @sylvanavanderkaa’s TikTok and then saying:

My in-ears have come undone, just one second. Just talk amongst yourselves.

After saying that, she proceeded to unhook her blue dress, revealing the gold and black two-piece set she was wearing during The Tortured Poets Department part of the show – a change that was recently made to the Eras Tour following the release of said album. Then, one of her crew members ran onto the stage, helped her fix the issue, and then she smiled, laughed and went on with the show. 

The video of this all happening, of course, has gone viral on social media, check it out:

If you’ve seen the Eras Tour live , or if you’ve been keeping up with the shows on social media, you are likely aware of its nickname – The Errors Tour – which fans lovingly gave it. From having to bolt off the stage during a technical malfunction to getting her shirt stuck in parts of her Midnights outfits, to mics seemingly being out, Taylor Swift has had to deal with many minor issues across her tour, and she always handles them incredibly well. 

When things are live, you never know what could happen, and with a behemoth show like The Eras Tour, malfunctions are inevitable. Luckily, we have a master leading the show, and she knew exactly how to deal with the most recent hiccup. 

Honestly, while most performers know how to manage malfunctions like a pro, Taylor Swift is the queen of it. In this moment, her light-heartedly interacting with the crowd and telling them to “talk amongst” themselves was so silly, and her laughing after the issue was fixed helped turn what could have been an awkward moment into a hilarious and fun one. 

If you’ve watched The Eras Tour concert film with a Disney+ subscription , you should be well aware of this fact. At the end of the project, the credits are full of little mishaps that happened during the show’s North American leg, and you can see Taylor Swift laughing through them all with the crowd. This latest hiccup is just another example of her sweet relationship with the Swifties and her ability to put on a fantastic show no matter what issues crop up.

As Taylor Swift continues to release work and the Eras Tour travels across the world, it’s probable that more minor malfunctions will happen, and I’m sure she’ll handle them with grace, poise and a good laugh. As I’ve been saying, she’s the queen of shaking it off. 

Book Tour: At home with Amor Towles

The author of “A Gentleman in Moscow” and “The Lincoln Highway” guides us through his personal library.

Photographs by Jeenah Moon for The Washington Post

The library in Amor Towles’s beautifully appointed home not far from Gramercy Park in Manhattan looks and feels like the Platonic ideal of the concept: tall windows, tasteful art on the walls, many comfortable seating options and well-ordered shelves filled with classic literature. Perfect for reading in, of course, but when I visited in March, Towles first wanted to talk about writing. This is the room where he composed, among other books, his acclaimed bestsellers “A Gentleman in Moscow” and “The Lincoln Highway.” (His newest, “Table for Two,” a collection of stories and a novella, was published last month.)

Towles first brought out a few of what he calls the “design books” for his novels — notebooks that he fills with details for about four years before he starts officially writing. “I’m just trying to imagine: What happens? Who are the people?” he said. “Where are they from, what’s their personality? What are the settings? Who says what, and why? What are the tones?”

Some of the notes he scribbles are longer and more fully realized than others, but Towles estimates that he writes 80 percent of what ends up in his fiction on a computer, once the handwritten design books have done their duty.

Guides from the past

To conjure all those details and tones, Towles partly and very happily relies on documents dating from the eras he writes about. His shelves still include classic travel guides to Moscow, including one published by Intourist in 1932 and a Baedeker guide from 1914. “Intourist was the Politburo-owned tourist agency of Russia,” Towles said, “and at one time its offices were in the Metropol Hotel [the primary setting of ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’]. I had street maps from the ’30s that I could look at. Part of it was to see how they described for the Westerner something that they were trying to impress them with, et cetera.”

A framed picture of Ewan McGregor, in character, used in the production of the recently released adaptation of “A Gentleman in Moscow,” sits on a shelf nearby. Towles said it appeared as part of a secret police file in the show: “You don’t even notice it on screen, but it’s tucked under a paper clip on top of the file.”

A full encyclopedia set from 1931 is another treasure that combines pleasure and work for Towles. “I think it was 48 cents per book. My first novel, ‘Rules of Civility,’ happened to be set in 1938, and I thought: ‘This is great, I can check the population of New York City right there.’ I love old, weird reference.”

A treasured checklist

Towles majored in literature as an undergraduate at Yale and took the few creative-writing courses the school offered at the time. When he was a sophomore, the experimental-fiction writer Walter Abish was a visiting professor.

“At the end of the class,” Towles remembered, “he said to us: ‘All this has been great. I liked your work. I hope my comments have been helpful. But probably the most valuable thing I can do is give you a hundred books that I like.’ So he gave us this list. And because he was an avant-gardist, it was a lot of people who, at the age of 19, I had never heard of: Andre Breton, Barthelme, Beckett, Heinrich Böll … international writers, but all playing with form, that’s what he was interested in.”

Towles immediately started checking for the recommended titles anytime he visited a used-book store. “I’d stack them up, and I’d read a novel a day off of his list,” he said. “That was a totally different kind of experience than studying Henry James or Shakespeare or Chaucer in the academy. A lot of these books [on Abish’s list] were not perfectly made. A lot of them are stabs at something.”

Matthiessen, mentor and friend

The year after Abish taught at the school, Peter Matthiessen arrived for a semester. Matthiessen was already a celebrated writer of both nonfiction (“The Snow Leopard”) and fiction (“At Play in the Fields of the Lord”). He singled out Towles’s work for praise and told the young writer, “I’m going to take your time here very seriously, and I hope that you’re going to take your time with me very seriously, too.” The encouragement was “a gift,” Towles said. The next year, Towles worked with him again, and the two struck up a long friendship.

Towles laughed remembering Matthiessen’s underwhelmed reaction to the draft manuscript of “Rules of Civility” (“He didn’t know why I was writing a book set in 1938”), but when the book became a bestseller, the mentor wrote him a note of congratulations, saying that his sister had loved it and was thrilled to find her brother’s name in its acknowledgments.

New ideas, new language

In addition to his fond remembrances of his formal education, Towles referred to himself more than once during the tour as a “reader-writer,” someone who is constantly refining each of those skills in a conscious conversation between them. He stopped at a shelf of books — the “big ideas” collection, kept together — by Augustine, Darwin, Nietzsche, Marx, Freud and others. “What these things have in common for me is that [their authors] had to invent a new language to express their discovery. They weren’t doing the new version of something or doing a ‘spin’ on so and so. [Freud’s] ‘Interpretation of Dreams’ is a totally radical, weird book.”

“Marx and the group around him, they invented that whole thing of, ‘There is no more time! Now is the time to make a decision!’ This sweeping, bold things in single-sentence paragraphs: ‘ All people must …’ That’s electric. And you realize that you can apply that language in your novel. It’s doing something very different. I get very interested in how non-narrativists turn on language in the pursuit of a particular outcome, that I can then sort of use in some weird way.”

“Now you’re in the first-edition zone,” Towles said, opening the glass doors directly behind his writing desk. “And now you’re really into heroes: Faulkner, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Conrad, Emily Dickinson.” (Towles also listed the Transcendentalists in this league; he was born and raised in the Boston area and said that “a lot of the personality aspects of Emerson and Thoreau are second nature to me.”)

“This is kind of crazy, just time coming around the corner,” he said, pulling one modest-size blue book off the shelf. “This is a first edition of ‘The Great Gatsby.’ It was owned by Dorothy Ann Scarritt,” he noted, pointing to her signature inside the book. “This is August 1925. She later becomes famous because she is Oppenheimer’s secretary at Los Alamos. She’s like the second employee at Los Alamos; she’s there the entire time and she organizes his entire life. She’s involved with bringing everyone in, getting them set up.”

Scarritt’s signature has a lot of company among Towles’s books. A signed copy of Bob Dylan’s Nobel Prize lecture — a small book nestled inside a larger case — was a gift from his wife. Towles is a longtime fan of Dylan’s and mentioned him in the same sentence as Rimbaud and T.S. Eliot, so when the singer received the Nobel in literature in 2016 to divided opinion, Towles was ecstatic. “It was not controversial for me at all .”

Going back a century further, Towles took down a copy of Proust signed by its translator, C.K. Scott Moncrieff, to Joseph Conrad in 1922.

On a shelf across the room, Towles has another edition of Proust’s work, as well as several books about what he calls “Proust-y stuff” — “different things about Proust — Proust’s letters, paintings in Proust, the music of Proust …”

A long-running book club

Proust also holds a place of honor in an intense book club that Towles has been in with three close friends for just over two decades. “We basically read a novel a month, and we do projects. And we do almost explicitly dead authors; occasionally we veer from that, but mostly it’s dead. We started with Proust. Twenty years ago, we read it as a team. That took longer. We didn’t do it over seven dinners [one per book], more like 14 — over a year and a half.”

The club’s creation was inspired by Harold Bloom’s “Where Shall Wisdom Be Found?,” in which the literary scholar and critic pondered which writers he’d learned more from about the human condition: Plato or Homer? Freud or Proust?

“I was turning 40 in like two months,” Towles said, recalling when he read Bloom’s book. “I thought, if I live to 80 and read a book carefully a month, that means I have 480 books left. And if that’s true, I better focus on books that you could reread at 20, 40 and 60 and learn something new. I was ranting about this to my friend Ann Brashares at a cocktail party, and she said, ‘I’m in.’ And we’ve been going ever since.”

Given the size and ambitions of the books they normally choose, one of the friends recently suggested a “palate cleanser,” which led to “a dinner we called the Fitzgerald-Salinger Death Match. We realized that we’d all read ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ as children . So the question was: Which was better? We would reread both in a week and then come back and debate.” I later realized I had left Towles’s home without asking who won.

An earlier version of this article misidentified the person who sent Peter Matthiessen a note after reading "Rules of Civility." It was Matthiessen's sister, not his daughter.

About this story

Editing by John Williams. Photography by Jeenah Moon for The Washington Post. Design and development by Beth Broadwater. Photo editing by Annaliese Nurnberg. Copy editing by Jennifer Morehead.

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Watch CBS News

Grayson Murray, two-time PGA tour winner, dies at 30

By Cara Tabachnick

Updated on: May 25, 2024 / 5:12 PM EDT / CBS News

Pro-golfer Grayson Murray died Saturday, PGA officials said. The two-time PGA Tour winner was 30 years old. 

"We were devastated to learn – and are heartbroken to share – that PGA TOUR player Grayson Murray passed away this morning. I am at a loss for words," PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement. "The PGA TOUR is a family, and when you lose a member of your family, you are never the same. We mourn Grayson and pray for comfort for his loved ones."

Murray - citing an illness - withdrew Friday  during the second round of the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, CBS Sports reported.

PGA officials said grief counselors will be made available at all venues this week and will release more information as it becomes available.

Condolences began to pour out soon after the news of Murray's death was made public. 

"Very sad to hear the news of Grayson Murray's passing today," golfer Bubba Watson posted on X, formerly Twitter on Sunday. "Life is so fragile… I was just hugging you at the Masters, telling you how proud of you I am. Thankful to have known you. My deepest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time. He will be missed."

Murray won his second PGA TOUR title at this year's Sony Open in Hawaii. He played golf at Wake Forest University, East Carolina University and Arizona State University before turning professional. He won his first title at the 2017 Barbasol Championship when he was 23 years old.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

Cara Tabachnick is a news editor at CBSNews.com. Cara began her career on the crime beat at Newsday. She has written for Marie Claire, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. She reports on justice and human rights issues. Contact her at [email protected]

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How Big Is Taylor Swift?

Taylor Swift?

As big as the Beatles? Michael Jackson? Beyoncé? We crunched the numbers.

By Joe Coscarelli Graphics and additional reporting by Courtney Cox and Fred Bierman

You might have heard: Taylor Swift cannot be stopped.

Her new album , “The Tortured Poets Department,” sold 2.6 million copies in its opening week last month, earning Swift her eighth Billboard No. 1 album since 2020.

At the Grammy Awards in February, she became the first artist to win album of the year for a fourth time, breaking a tie with Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon.

And earlier this month, Swift’s Eras Tour, the 152-date, billion-dollar stadium takeover that began last year, resumed abroad before it returns to the U.S. in October.

Taylor Swift onstage at an Eras Tour show in New Jersey last year.

In 2023, according to the data tracking service Luminate, one in every 78 songs streamed in the U.S. was by Swift.

With a mix of prolific artistic output and relentless business savvy, plus cultural dominance as a celebrity, Swift, 34, has created such a swell of momentum that she is probably more popular — more omnipresent — 19 years into her professional music career than she ever has been.

That is not normal.

Swift fans in the parking lot of MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

But just how big is Taylor Swift, in terms of the all-time pop pantheon?

The singer’s ongoing surge has inspired inevitable debates about how her success stacks up not only against her pop peers, like Beyoncé and Drake, but to the greats that came before them. Even Billy Joel said he could only compare this Swift moment to Beatlemania.

Enraptured Beatles fans in 1964.

It may be impossible to do an exact, one-to-one comparison between Swift’s career and that of the Beatles — or Madonna, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John or your icon of choice. Besides music being personal and subjective, the nature of success (and how it is calculated) has changed drastically over time. Much of a star’s grip on the zeitgeist is also intangible — a vibe in the air, their influence moving subtly but undeniably through culture.

But the absence of a truly scientific comparison has never stopped the amusement that comes from the eternal sports and pop culture debates of our time: Jordan vs. LeBron (or Kareem, or Kobe). Brady vs. Montana (or Marino, or Mahomes). “Star Wars” vs. “Star Trek” (or Harry Potter, or the Marvel Universe).

Even without definitive conclusions, it’s impossible for certain loyalists, haters and obsessives not to wonder how giants match up using whatever evidence might be available.

So with Swift’s career still peaking late into its second decade, we ran the numbers and analyzed the data, taking stock of what she has accomplished so far — and when — alongside some of the heaviest hitters in each category.

Taylor vs. the Beatles Hit Singles

First, there are the Beatles, who for most music fans still represent the gold standard of pop mania in modern times.

When it comes to Billboard No. 1 singles …

… they set the benchmark.

From the early 1960s, when pop music usually came in the form of two-sided vinyl singles, until the Fab Four broke up in 1970, the band released 64 songs that landed on Billboard’s all-genre chart, known as the Hot 100.

In that time, the Beatles helped to usher in the rock ’n’ roll revolution — and the album age — by releasing more than a dozen LPs.

But many of the records they set for hit singles still stand today.

THE BEATLES

TAYLOR SWIFT

‘Change’

‘We Are Never Ever Getting

Back Together’ (2012)

Let’s look at how Swift’s Top 10 hits compare to the Beatles’ over the course of their careers, starting with the year each of them released their first original single in the U.S.

What is incredible to remember is that almost all of the Beatles’ success — and their entire artistic output — happened very quickly.

Of the band’s 35 total Top 10 hits, 32 of them arrived in just eight years. (Three more Top 10s came after the band split.)

The Beatles came in hot, then they were gone — a risk for groups, with their various egos and complications, that Swift will never have to face.

Her career, on the other hand, has been a much slower burn, as she grew from country music ingénue to full-bore pop star.

Swift’s first Top 10 song (“Change”) didn’t hit until around her second album, “Fearless,” in 2008.

When we focus on No. 1s, the Beatles really dominate, with more chart-toppers than any other artist, a record they’ve held since 1965.

Out of the Beatles’ 20 No. 1s, the majority also came quickly, with 11 songs , including “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Love Me Do” and “Yesterday,” topping the chart in 1964 and 1965, their earliest years as a fresh-faced phenomenon.

Swift’s first chart-topper, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” in 2012, needed a more dramatic twist.

Seven years into her career, she left behind her Nashville sound and collaborated with the pop guru Max Martin, who trails only John Lennon and Paul McCartney with 25 career No. 1s as a songwriter.

The bulk of Swift’s singles success has come even later, with seven of her 12 total No. 1s, including “Fortnight,” “Cruel Summer” and “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” arriving in the last five years , as her career entered its teens.

By that point in their musical lives, the individual Beatles were well into their various solo endeavors, with McCartney experimenting with new wave and George Harrison writing songs about race cars .

But as with any comparison across eras, there must be footnotes and asterisks. When we look at Top 10s from the 1960s, we’re only counting an artist’s actual “singles” — songs released for purchase outside of a full album.

After 1998, the rules began changing to include any song on the radio, regardless of how it was released, and eventually counting digital downloads and streams. By today’s rules, the Beatles would have even more hits than Billboard’s official count.

Swift, whose new album features 31 songs, each of which hit the Hot 100, has dominated with these new metrics: In 2022, she became the first artist to occupy the entire Top 10 on the Hot 100 at once following the release of “Midnights.”

She repeated and expanded upon that feat last month with songs from “The Tortured Poets Department,” which filled the top 14 spots on the singles chart.

This might measure a different kind of fervor than the musical ubiquity of the Beatles or others who ruled the radio later — a depth of obsession for Swift’s fans who stream her music billions of times and purchase it in multiple formats.

The length of Swift’s career has allowed her into the Beatles’ vaunted ballpark by giving her the chance to evolve her sound, grow her loyal audience and take full advantage of technological advances.

Yet as wild as it is for the Beatles to have accomplished so much in so little time, Swift’s longevity might be considered equally impressive in pop music, which often overvalues the new and — especially among female artists — the young.

Taylor vs. Michael Jackson Album Sales

Despite Swift’s streaming success — and ability to move even vinyl records — the high bar can only be Michael Jackson when it comes to album sales.

Like the Beatles, Jackson reached heights pop had never seen, changing the very nature of stardom, for better and worse, by kicking off the MTV video age and ruling popular culture amid tabloid mayhem.

Unlike the Beatles’, Jackson’s career was relatively long, from his time as a child star in the Jackson 5 until his death in 2009 at 50.

MICHAEL JACKSON

PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS

‘Thriller’

‘Fearless’

‘1989’

ALBUM SALES

‘1989

(Taylor’s Version)’

But the meat of Jackson’s solo career lasted from 1972 through 2001, during which he put out 10 albums and followed a fairly typical arc for a pop career …

… the release of starter albums like “Got to Be There” and “Ben” in the early 1970s, then a big breakthrough — “Off the Wall” in 1979 — and a peak, before Jackson slowed down somewhat, at least commercially.

That peak just happened to be “Thriller” — arguably the peak of all pop peaks — which came out in 1982, when Jackson was 24.

For albums, going platinum — or selling one million copies — is the go-to stat. Let’s look at Jackson’s platinum albums vs. Swift’s , starting with the beginning of their careers as solo artists.

In the four-plus decades since “Thriller” was released, it has been certified 34 times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, making it one of the most successful albums of all time.

Swift’s biggest albums so far are “Fearless,” which is officially 10 times platinum, and “1989,” at nine times platinum.

However, Swift’s platinum certifications are not totally up to date and do not yet count the sales of her redone “Taylor’s Version” releases, which have not been officially tallied by the R.I.A.A.

(It’s also worth noting that an album “sale” now means something different: a set amount of song streams or downloads is considered the equivalent of one album sold.)

Using the more recent sales data available for Swift’s albums, which can help us estimate where her R.I.A.A. certifications will be when they’re updated …

… she starts to approach — and even pass — Jackson’s monster platinum totals, giving us a better idea of how Swift will stack up to Jackson long term. Remember, Swift’s albums have about 30 years less of collective sales when compared to “Thriller” — and they’re still being actively promoted.

Swift’s “1989” — also released when she was 24 — may be the closest thing she has to Jackson’s biggest blockbuster …

… and she’s been strategic enough to release it twice, elongating what could be considered her career peak by stretching it across two distinct eras nearly a decade apart.

Part of Swift’s genius as she’s run up the stats these last few years — releasing nearly 200 songs since the pandemic — is that the music that first made her a star in the mid-to-late 2000s is exploding again alongside her latest hits, giving new fans a fresh entry point.

Already, Swift has released more solo albums than Jackson ever did, and with her productivity — including those two different versions of four of her albums so far — she can approach the King of Pop.

In all, Jackson’s 10 solo albums have been certified 72 times platinum. Swift’s 11 original albums have been certified 50 times platinum. But her album sales tell us that number, including Taylor’s Versions, is likely to be closer to 90. And she is very much still going, with “The Tortured Poets Department” already topping three million in about a month.

Taylor vs. Britney Spears A Pop-Star Arc

Swift’s extended peak becomes even more of a standout when compared to a more typical pop trajectory — even one with towering highs.

Like Swift, Britney Spears released her debut single at age 16 and came to absolutely dominate the cultural conversation (sometimes in ways that discounted her music in favor of her love life).

Commercially huge in its moment, Spears’s music career was also relatively short-lived, which tends to be the case more often than not, especially for singers who are known as performers and celebrities more than quote-unquote serious artists.

Swift, unlike Spears, has been firm in branding herself as a songwriter from the beginning, helping stave off some sexist criticism of her music as frivolous.

BRITNEY SPEARS

‘... Baby One More Time’

For reasons that became more complicated as time went on, Spears’s career sloped downward commercially basically from the moment it began, if you’re looking at album sales .

“ ... Baby One More Time ,” Spears’s 1999 debut, sold impressively. It’s certified platinum more times than, say, “Abbey Road” ...

… but it’s not quite “ 1989 ” even in raw numbers, leaving aside any questions of authorship, artistic merit and staying power.

The diminishing returns of Spears’s subsequent releases represent a sadly common path for the kind of pop singers that audiences can treat as disposable, with a new model always on the horizon.

Taylor vs. Madonna Era After Era

Madonna’s ability to reinvent — to persist as a woman in pop — is the reason we talk about artist “eras” to begin with. Another path-breaking solo pop singer with a huge peak, a long run of domination, a savvy command of marketing and unexpected longevity, Madonna has had a career that is 43 years long and counting.

From her breakthrough second album, “Like a Virgin,” released in 1984, when she was 26, through “Bedtime Stories” in 1994, Madonna was inescapable, pushing the boundaries of visual and sonic reinvention that are now considered prerequisites for top acts.

‘Vogue’ (1990)

‘This Used To Be

My Playground’(1992)

‘Music’

Let’s look at Madonna’s Top 10 Billboard hits compared to Swift’s, which shows how consistent both artists have been over extended periods of time — but also when in their careers each was most in the mix.

Madonna scored No. 1 hits across three decades, beginning with the title track from “Like a Virgin” in 1984.

In her first 10 years dominating the charts , Madonna had 10 No. 1s, ruling radio, MTV and nightclubs. She also appeared in blockbuster movies like “Dick Tracy” and “Evita,” expanding her cultural omnipresence.

Madonna’s peak was fueled in part by the kind of polarizing, shock-value controversy — think “Like a Virgin,” “Like a Prayer” or the “Sex” book from 1992 — that Swift has studiously avoided. (Although she, too, has had her share of extra-musical headlines, like the Kanye West V.M.A.s moment in 2009.)

But it was Madonna’s multifaceted fame as a triple threat that helped lead to many of her No. 1 hits, including “ Vogue ” (from “I’m Breathless,” the “Dick Tracy” soundtrack album) and …

… “ This Used to Be My Playground ” (the theme from “A League of Their Own”).

Swift has also dipped a toe into Hollywood, although her roles in “Valentine’s Day,” “Cats” and David O. Russell’s “Amsterdam” are less fondly remembered (and have resulted in no hit songs).

The most recent of Madonna’s 12 No. 1 hits (“ Music ,” from 2000) came 19 years into her career — where Swift is now — at the age of 42.

Madonna’s eight-year comeback period , from “Ray of Light” in 1998 to “Confessions on a Dance Floor” in 2005, resulted in six Top 10 hits. She has 38 overall (with none since 2012), compared to Swift’s 59 so far.

Taylor vs. the Veterans Touring and Awards

Alongside a pop survivor like Madonna, now 65, acts like Elton John, 77, and Bruce Springsteen, 74, are an interesting comparison point for Swift because of their productivity, longevity and critical acclaim — all of which has paid off on the road.

(See also: Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, who are not included here, but would be interesting points of comparison using slightly different metrics.)

While Madonna has slipped on the charts — none of her most recent four albums has gone platinum — she remains a major live draw, a standard give-and-take for a top-tier legacy act.

John and Springsteen, both veterans about 50 years into their careers, also had periods of commercial dominance beginning in the 1970s with albums like “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (released when John was 26, that pop-star sweet spot) and “Born to Run” (from when Springsteen was 25).

But as they settled into pop-star middle age, plateauing commercially, they too have persisted with uber-successful, long-running tours fueled by fan allegiance and critical acclaim.

APPROXIMATE GROSS FOR TOP TOUR

Taylor Swift

Eras Tour (through mid-Nov. 2023)

Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour (2018-23)

Sticky & Sweet Tour (2008-9)

Renaissance World Tour (2023)

Bruce Springsteen

Springsteen and the E Street Band Tour (2023)

Michael Jackson

History World Tour (1996-7)

It’s All a Blur Tour (through mid-Nov. 2023)

All figures in 2023-24 dollars

APPROXIMATE GROSS PER SHOW

Let’s look at the total grosses for the best-selling tours by John and Springsteen, which put them in the company of more commercially dominant artists like Swift, Madonna and Jackson.

John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, a late-career greatest hits show named for his biggest album, made nearly $1 billion in part because it lasted for six years and more than 300 dates.

Madonna’s best-selling tour was Sticky & Sweet , from 2008 and 2009. (Like Swift’s Eras Tour, Madonna’s recent Celebration Tour highlighted all the periods of her four-decade career, although it was less profitable and played arenas rather than stadiums.)

If you look at how much these major tours made per show, the list changes.

This is where Swift shines, taking in more than $17 million per concert. By the time it’s over, the Eras Tour could bring in over $2 billion in ticket sales.

One notable aspect of Swift’s career so far is that it seems to bridge the gap between two kinds of artists, both of which can become legacy acts with strong enough catalogs and fan bases: the sustained, hit-making entertainers who may be overlooked, at least at first, as musicians, and the serious singer-songwriters who tend to be more critically lauded.

The Grammy Awards, love them or hate them, are voted on by other musicians and provide a proxy stat for prestige and overall acclaim in the moment.

NOMINATIONS

TOP CATEGORY

Let’s look at Grammy nominations among the crop of top artists we’re considering.

While Swift has already outpaced Jackson and Springsteen, it’s Beyoncé — another artist who has changed the way we talk about pop stars — who has the most nominations ever.

Looking at Grammy wins …

… we see artists like John and Drake, another modern juggernaut, drop on this list, having converted fewer of their nominations to victories compared with, say, Jackson and Springsteen.

Springsteen has won 20 Grammys across the decades, from his first for “Dancing in the Dark” in 1985 to his most recent, in 2010, for “Working on a Dream.”

Beyoncé is the winningest musician ever at the Grammys, where she has been awarded 32 times, topping the conductor Georg Solti (31) and the producer Quincy Jones (28), who was behind Jackson’s “Thriller.”

Yet Beyoncé has still never taken album of the year — where Swift has four trophies — and has won only once in the top categories , which include record, song and album of the year, plus best new artist.

It's been more than a decade since Beyoncé earned a top-tier Grammy, when “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” was awarded song of the year.

Madonna didn’t win her first Grammy until 1992 (for best music video!) and only has scattered victories since, indicating she may have been viewed by her industry peers as more of a commercial force than a musician’s musician.

It is worth pointing out that the Beatles won just four Grammys while active, including two in the big four categories, out of 20 nominations, demonstrating how hard it is to quantify musical quality and how esteem tends to shift over time. (Three more nominations and wins came after they broke up.)

The band took the top prize just once — for “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” the first rock album to win, in 1968 — in part because the Grammys, until the late 1960s, were quite conservative, often recognizing old-school, traditional pop acts like Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand. (“Help!” and “Revolver” both lost to Sinatra.)

Looking at stats like that, you could argue that the most popular musicians are taken more seriously as artists now than ever before, in no small part because of acts like the Beatles, Jackson and Madonna.

Taylor vs. Beyoncé and Drake Modern Heavyweights

While Swift’s overall pound-for-pound standing in each of the categories we’ve looked at puts her in rare historical company, it is notable that two of her most immediate contemporaries — Beyoncé, 42, and Drake, 37 — are also legitimate challengers across the board.

All three artists have maneuvered the industry transition between CDs, downloads and streaming to become defining modern superstars while also maximizing those intangibles like cultural reach and celebrity domination.

Beyoncé, now 23 years into a solo career after her time with the group Destiny’s Child, stands with Swift when it comes to versatility and longevity, plus sustained commercial dominance.

‘I Am ...

Sasha Fierce’

‘The Tortured

Poets Department’

‘Cowboy

Carter’

Let’s look at their album sales as solo artists side by side.

Beyoncé’s commercial peak (so far) came with “ I Am… Sasha Fierce ,” released in 2008, when she was 27. That album has sold more than nine million copies.

Since then , while selling fewer records, she has focused on different pillars of legacy, pioneering the visual album format (“Beyoncé,” “Lemonade”), experimenting with genre (“Renaissance,” “Cowboy Carter”) and pushing the limits of an extravagant live spectacle (Coachella, the Renaissance World Tour).

Both Beyoncé and Swift have had big-selling No. 1 albums this year , during fresh periods of productivity.

Like Madonna and Swift, Beyoncé has continued to stretch the limits of what a woman’s pop career can hold, landing two chart-topping singles in her 40s (with “Break My Soul,” in 2022, and again earlier this year, with the country-influenced “Texas Hold ’Em”).

She has also performed twice at the Super Bowl — something Swift has yet to do — a stage where acts like Madonna, Jackson and Springsteen have solidified their unquantifiable grasp on culture.

And then there is Drake, a relentless hitmaker. Like Swift, Drake has optimized his output to take advantage of the way streaming has reshaped the industry and its accolades to set new records, including 328 total entries on the Hot 100.

Swift, with 232, is the only other artist with at least 200.

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Drake has 78 Top 10 hits so far in his career …

… and 13 No. 1s stemming from a variety of projects: official albums, less official mixtapes, streaming-only “playlists,” one-off singles, collaborative albums and more.

As a rapper and frequent guest artist, Drake, unlike Swift, has appeared on many hits by others …

… like his first No. 1, on Rihanna’s “What’s My Name?” in 2010, accounting for a wide reach beyond his own releases.

Yet somehow Drake and Swift have never released a song together, despite sharing a certain canniness and expressing mutual appreciation for one another.

Even in his recent battle with Kendrick Lamar, Drake made clear that he sees Swift as his only real contemporary competition. (He has also rapped about having “more slaps than the Beatles” and frequently invokes Jackson’s success as a touchstone.)

Drake, Beyoncé and Swift all have this modern characteristic in common: They’re each actively playing for legacy, one eye on history and another on the record books. Ambitious and autonomous, they’re proudly writing their résumés in real time, juicing Billboard numbers and even gunning for accolades.

As a shrewd student of music and fame, Swift may know that she will never achieve the exact kind of domination that the Beatles, Jackson and Madonna had at the height of global monoculture, when everyone might pay attention to the same thing. But she’s certainly trying, taking bits and pieces from each’s career and making sure to maximize her work and reach in all the ways that weren’t available then.

She cares how she’s perceived and how she’ll be remembered when the noise fades and all that’s left are the songs — and the stats.

So far, it’s working.

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