A cultural homecoming, bringing millions to the local economy
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour ignites in Inglewood on April 28, with four sold-out nights at the SoFi Stadium. The launch of this tour, in one of the Blackest and most dynamic cities in America, is as much of a spectacle as it is an economic and cultural statement.
For Inglewood, a historically Black city experiencing rapid development, and for Los Angeles as a whole, Beyoncé’s choice to begin her tour here could bring millions to the local economy while placing Black country music in the spotlight on a global stage.
The economic stakes are high. A special report from the California Center for Jobs and the Economy revealed that Taylor Swift’s six-night run at SoFi Stadium in 2023 generated over $320 million for Los Angeles County, created 3,300 jobs, and brought in $160 million in local earnings. Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour stop that same year grossed $45.5 million over just three nights at SoFi. With Cowboy Carter scheduled for four performances, Inglewood’s businesses, hotels, and Black-owned establishments are poised for another major windfall.
Inglewood is not a random stop; it is the perfect place to launch the tour. For decades, Inglewood has been home to Black families, faith communities, small businesses, and creatives who reflect the very values Beyoncé threads into “Cowboy Carter.” From Baldwin Hills to Crenshaw, from gospel choirs to backyard blues, Los Angeles has always nurtured Black southern roots in a western world.
SoFi Stadium, though only a few years old, has quickly become a cornerstone for Black cultural moments, hosting the Super Bowl halftime show featuring Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar’s hometown celebrations, and now the Queen Bey herself. This moment belongs to Los Angeles, and more specifically, to the Black community that has long defined its sound, style, and spirit.
Beyoncé became the first Black woman in history to debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. At this year’s Grammy Awards, the album won Album of the Year, Best Country Album, and Best Country Duo/Group Performance, solidifying Beyoncé as the most-nominated and most-awarded artist in Grammy history, with 99 nominations and 35 wins. The album weaves together country, rock, gospel, bluegrass, and folk.
Black country artists may not be the most visible figures in LA’s music scene, but they are here. Howdy Glenn, an LA-based trailblazer, was recently honored by the Recording Academy for his early contributions to the genre. Reyna Roberts, Miko Marks, and the touring collective The Black Opry Revue have performed in LA and bring national attention to the space Black voices occupy in country music.
Beyoncé sings on the standout track “Daughter,” “A Black girl with a guitar / ’Cause we’re stronger than they want us to believe.” Next week, that strength takes center stage in Inglewood.
