Theater Kid Without a Budget: The Success Behind “The Short n’ Sweet Tour”
I want to begin where most successful tours gain popularity: the album released in conjunction. In August, pop music’s newest princess, Sabrina Carpenter, released her sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet. Many consider this only Carpenter’s sophomore record given her first four were previously released under her contract with Hollywood Record, synonymous with many stars' younger days on Disney Channel. Carpenter began her, for lack of better terms, adult music career with the release of “Skin” under Island Records. Her first album under Island Records titled emails i can’t send received many praises for its overall lyricism, and moreover, showcased much of Carpenter’s personality. While much of emails seems to be responsive, given the 2021 scandal between herself and fellow pop artist Olivia Rodrigo, along with Disney star Joshua Bassett, Carpenter situated herself a certified fighter with titles such as “because i liked a boy,” which reframes the narrative painted by many in the previous year as Carpenter responds to much of the backlash and slut-shaming she faced.
While emails feels as if its the album Carpenter needed to make in response to her controversies, Short n’ Sweet feels like the album she made purely for herself. The anticipation for the summer record rose massively with the release of “Espresso,” which has now garnered over 1.5 billion streams on Spotify following its April release. Coupled with the #1 hit second single, “Please Please Please,” starring Carpenter’s own partner, film star Barry Keoghan, the stage was set for Short n’ Sweet’s pop dominance, and dominate it did.
Short n’ Sweet with its flirty references and Carpenter’s new signature babydoll aesthetic, has received a Platinum certification from RIAA, sold over 216,000 copies, and peaked at #1 in all major counts. To put it short and sweetly, the album was a massive success.
Therefore, when Carpenter started her first show in Columbus, OH, in a bedazzled towel, she knew the fans were on her side. From personal experience, witnessing this show was truly a treat, as it is a marvel in consistency. Throughout the entire performance, the running theme is that of a vintage television network. From the transition to “Sabrina After Dark” to the inclusion of repeated goodbye messages recorded by Carpenter herself, every single moment seemed perfectly crafted.
The set itself is built upon a motel landscape, graciously debuted earlier in the year during Carpenter’s star-making sets at Coachella.
While many songs from emails i can’t send are included in the setlist, Short n’ Sweet truly ascended Carpenter to new heights. In that, I would be remiss not to mention Carpenter also had the seal of approval from one of the music scene’s reigning queens, Taylor Swift. Through the end of 2023, and the earlier quarter of 2024, Carpenter opened for Swift on her famed “The Eras Tour,” and this, compounded with Carpenter’s sheer talent, gave her the position she currently holds; an exciting popstar, already with an army of fans. However, respect for Carpenter has even gone industry-wide as she recently earned eight Grammy nominations from the Recording Academy, including the biggest four categories: Album, Record, New Artist, and Song of the Year. Overall, while Carpenter has been working very late, given her occupation, this success did not arise from just anywhere, and Sabrina Carpenter has proven she has the talent, wittiness, and production value to show she is not going anywhere.
