Recently, a job advertisement for a Taylor Swift reporter was posted by USA Today, which requires an experienced journalist and content creator to document the music and cultural influence of Taylor Swift. This isn’t something new as previously, in 2022, New York University’s Clive Davis Institute had launched a course concentrating on Taylor Swift, instructed by Rolling Stone’s Brittany Spanos. The institute also awarded Swift an honorary doctorate in fine arts for being “one of the most productive and famous artists in her era.”
Numerous universities across the globe have launched specialized courses focused solely on Taylor Swift. These courses include “The Psychology of Taylor Swift”, “The Taylor Swift Songbook”, and “Literature: Taylor’s Version”. Even though it’s not uncommon for celebrities and musicians to be objects of fascination, it is rare for them to receive such personalized attention. Swift’s remarkable career can be analyzed from various angles such as marketing, fandom, business, and songwriting, among others.
Numerous universities globally have introduced their own specialized courses dedicated to Taylor Swift, such as “The Psychology of Taylor Swift,” “The Taylor Swift Songbook,” and “Literature: Taylor’s Version.” It’s uncommon for musicians and celebrities to receive such personalized attention, but Swift’s remarkable career can be explored from several angles, such as marketing, fandom, business, and songwriting.
Swift’s musical accomplishments are record-breaking. Just recently, she became the first female artist on Spotify to have 100 million monthly listeners, marking a significant milestone in her career. She has also surpassed Barbra Streisand with the most number one albums on the Billboard charts by a woman artist, with a total of 12. What’s even more impressive is Swift’s three Album Of The Year Grammy wins – for Fearless, 1989, and Folklore – each showcasing her versatility in different musical genres. It’s a testament to her exceptional songwriting abilities and her ability to cater to diverse audiences. As a female artist, Swift acknowledges the pressure to constantly reinvent herself, as discussed in her Netflix documentary Miss Americana. Swift’s evolution from a country singer to a global pop star is evident in each of her 10 studio albums, each with its own unique theme and aesthetic that she showcases in her successful Eras Tour.
The recently concluded US leg of Taylor Swift’s tour is expected to generate a record-breaking revenue for the global tourism industry. According to a recent report, the tour could potentially add as much as $5 billion to the worldwide economy. However, Swift’s influence extends beyond her music.
She has made significant strides in changing the game for musicians, taking on record labels and streaming services to advocate for better deals for artists. Notably, she successfully campaigned for Apple Music to change its payment policies in 2015. She also stood up against her former record label, Big Machine Records, by publicly feuding with music executive Scooter Braun over the ownership of her master recordings.
Swift’s actions have brought attention to important issues that are often overlooked in the music industry, such as the value of music and artist contracts. While she has the privilege to take risks that many emerging artists cannot afford, she is using her power to drive conversations and pave the way for others.
In an effort to regain control of her earlier work, Swift announced that she will be re-recording her first six albums. Each re-recorded album includes vault tracks and previously unreleased songs. The releases are accompanied by robust promotional campaigns, including new merchandise and limited-edition versions of each record for fans to collect.
The success of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) marks the halfway point in this process. Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Red (Taylor’s Version), and Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) have all performed better than the originals.
The tremendous support for Taylor Swift’s re-recorded albums can be attributed to her dedicated fanbase, referred to as “Swifties”. They have fully embraced the new versions and condemn anyone who still listens to the original “stolen” recordings. These fans are known for their active involvement and creativity, such as crafting handmade concert outfits and engaging in detailed online discussions about theories related to Swift’s music. Swift herself is known for dropping clues, called Easter eggs, in her lyrics, music videos, social media posts, and interviews. Fans have even created accounts dedicated to analyzing these Easter eggs and decoding number patterns and phrases to predict what Swift may release next. Encouraging this behavior, both Swift and her management team’s Taylor Nation frequently reward fans for their participation.
