Seattle Swifties are not alone in their capacity to generate seismic-like activity. Research from Caltech and UCLA recently discovered that fans of Taylor Swift in Los Angeles caused similar vibrations during the star’s six-night performance at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood in August. Caltech’s seismologist Gabrielle Tepp directed the study, which was titled “Shake to the Beat: Exploring the Seismic Signals and Stadium Response of Concerts and Music Fans.”
“There has been a general understanding that concerts produce these harmonic signals but the reasons have not always been clear,” Tepp explained to The Times over the phone. “We were interested in investigating what was causing it.”
The study focused on Swift’s August 5, 2023, performance, the third in her short SoFi series, which was conducted in front of an estimated 70,000 fans who sang and danced to Swift’s many hits. The concert’s signals were detected at seismic network stations within 9 kilometers (approximately 5.6 miles) of the stadium, and by “strong-motion sensors placed near and inside the stadium,” according to the study’s abstract.
The research found that Tepp and her team were able to determine the “seismic signature” for each song played during the concert, which spanned several hours. Further, the study revealed that the seismic activity was most likely caused by “dancing and jumping motions” from Swift’s audience at SoFi, rather than the sound system’s beats and reverberations.
“Jumping appears to be highly effective at generating these harmonic signals. The more people jumping, the more energy is transferred into [the ground],” Tepp told The Times. “For the more popular songs, there are likely more excited fans and more people jumping around.”
The researchers also determined the “radiated energy” of each song, in terms of equivalent earthquake magnitude. Swift’s lively “Shake It Off” resulted in the “highest local magnitude of 0.851,” according to the study.
“Keep in mind that this energy was dispersed over a few minutes, unlike an earthquake of that size, which would release the same energy in a second,” Tepp clarified in the study. “Based on the maximum strength of shaking, the strongest tremor was equivalent to a magnitude-2 earthquake.”
Tepp also noted that Swift’s performance of “Love Story” resulted in a significant amplitude response from the audience.
Swift’s Seattle fans allegedly danced and jumped so enthusiastically in July that a nearby seismometer equated their activity to a magnitude 2.3 earthquake, as reported by the Seattle Times. This “Swift Quake” led the California Office of Emergency Services to seek research interest among its seismic network operators for Swift’s SoFi performances. Answering this request, Tepp and her team installed motion sensors in the Inglewood stadium prior to Swift’s concerts.
Since its start in March 2023, Swift’s ongoing Eras tour has resulted in more than just scientific studies. The Eras tour has reportedly stimulated local economies, shattered tour revenue records, and helped Swift join the billionaires’ club.
“I’ve never felt prouder or happier, and I’ve never been more creatively fulfilled and free,” Swift said about her tour when she was named Time magazine’s 2023 Person of the Year in December.
Tepp told The Times that she and her colleagues are keen to further their research into how stadiums respond to seismic activity and have connected with the scientists who measured Seattle’s Swift Quake.
“There’s definitely more to explore with this,” Tepp said.
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My name is Alex Carter, a journalist with a deep passion for independent cinema, alternative music, and contemporary art. A University of California, Berkeley journalism graduate, I’ve honed my expertise through film reviews, artist profiles, and features on emerging cultural trends. My goal is to uncover unique stories, shine a light on underrepresented talents, and explore the impact of art on our society. Follow me on SuperBoxOffice.com for insightful analysis and captivating discoveries from the entertainment world.