Beyoncé & JAY-Z Help Louvre Break Visitor Record In 2018

The Carter effect is a real and powerful thing.

Thanks to Beyoncé and JAY-Z's "Apesh*t" music video (and the rise of tourism in Paris), the Louvre broke all ticket office records in 2018 with more than 10 million visitors. The high number marks a 25 percent increase for the museum and the highest number of visitors since 2012's 9.7 million visitors. The Louvre's feat came after the power couple released their lavish "Apesh*t" music video (which has been watched over 147 million times on Youtube) that was filmed in the iconic museum. 

Louvre director Jean-Luc Martinez made sure to sing the video's praises, saying, according to the Guardian, "The Beyoncé video, like the opening of the Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi, ensured that the Louvre was talked about across the world, and one of the consequences of that is the spectacular rise in visitor numbers last year." 

As fans know, Bey and JAY surprisingly dropped the "Apesh*t" music video back in June alongside their first collaborative album, Everything is Love. Even with the couple's A-list celebrity status and seemingly bottomless pockets (Jay alone is worth a cool $900 million), many wondered just how they were able to rent out the world's largest art museum. It didn't take much digging as the Louvre revealed the reason behind their decision shortly after the music video dropped.

"Beyoncé and JAY-Z visited the Louvre four times in the last ten years. During their last visit in May 2018, they explained their idea of filming," a spokesperson explained to Vulture. "The deadlines were very tight but the Louvre was quickly convinced because the synopsis showed a real attachment to the museum and its beloved artworks."  

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