Gannett, the parent company of USA Today, posted a job Wednesday seeking a reporter to focus on pop superstar Beyoncé.
The reporter must be legally eligible for employment in the United States, able to travel internationally and to chronicle the music, fashion, cultural and economic influence of Beyoncé.
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The 42-year-old Houston native, whose full name is Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, has sold more than 200 million records and scored eight No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. She is married to rap superstar and businessman Jay-Z, whose given name is Shawn Corey Carter. The Carters married in 2008 and have three children.
The job description is pretty specific:
The international superstar and icon’s impact is felt across generations. She has been a force in everything from how the country views race to how women think about their partners. We are looking for an energetic and enterprising writer, capable of a text and video-forward approach, who can capture Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s effect not only on the many industries in which she operates, but also on society.
This reporter will identify why the star’s influence continues to expand and the effect it is having on the music and business worlds. The successful candidate also will tap into stories about the Beyhive, her protective fanbase that propels the image and relevance of the artist.
We are looking for a journalist with a voice — but not a bias — able to quickly cultivate a national audience through smart content designed to meet readers on their terms. This reporter will chronicle the next big moments of Beyoncé’s career, from the end of her Renaissance tour and its $1 billion in sales to her next ventures and endeavors, offering readers of USA TODAY, The Tennessean and more than 200 local news sources an inside view.
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Queen Bey’s Renaissance tour has five dates left. After today’s show in Seattle, the tour goes to Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, and Kansas City on October 1 for the last night of the tour.
In July, Beyonce’s 11 shows took in $127.6 million; when the tour wraps in Kansas City, it is expected to top $500 million.
The tour supports the singer’s 2022 “Renaissance” album, which has sold over 10 million copies. At the Feb. 5 Grammy Awards, Beyoncé won five Grammies, including one for Best Dance or Electronic Music. Her five Grammy haul gave her a total of 32, which is a record for any performer.
During the European leg of the tour, Beyoncé had such an effect that Michael Grahn, an economist with Danske Bank, said in an X post that the singer’s stop in Sweden was responsible for an unexpected 9.7 percent for the kingdom’s May inflation rate.
Who run the world? BEYONCE!
Michael Grahn, economist at Danske Bank, said he thought Beyoncé helped drive the jump in hotel rates. She may also have been the force behind the unexpectedly strong uptick in recreation and culture prices, he said. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/yW789auoEc
— Tamohara Invst Mngrs (@tamoharainv) June 30, 2023
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The economist then posted: “We expect this upside surprise to be reversed in June as prices on hotels and tickets reverse back to normal.”
The London newspaper, The Sun, reported a similar effect in the United Kingdom.
There are reports that Beyoncé plans to take the tour to Brazil in 2024.