Taylor Swift defines the music industry. She sets the standards for the music industry. She is the music industry.
Over the past 18 years, Taylor Swift has explored 11 different eras of music, from her self-titled debut album, to her most recent album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” She has done country music, pop music and alternative music, all of which have broken records and touched the hearts of her fans.
Over the past two years, Swift’s career ignited even more with her Eras Tour, which was a three and a half hour journey through all 18 years of her music.
This tour is the highest-grossing tour in history, according to Forbes, earning $2 billion, which is double any other tour in the past. Along with the success of the Eras Tour, Swift has proved her artistry by winning countless awards and breaking many records.
She has won four Album of the Year awards at the Grammys, which is the most of any artist in history. She’s also had the most number one songs by a female artist on the US Billboard Hot 100, and is the only artist to have held all the spots in Billboard’s Top 10 list, twice. She also broke the album sales record with her most recent album, “The Tortured Poets Department," and made history with as the album was the first ever to surpass 300 million streams on Spotify in a single day. These are only a few of the notable records Swift has broken.
Not only do all these record-breaking accomplishments prove why she has such an enormous and dedicated fan base, but it’s also because of the person she is. Taylor Swift sets an amazing example for young girls and women, and she truly cares about her fans.
Swift fought to own her music after producer Scooter Bruan bought and sold her entire music catalog. “Swift vocally fought against the acquisition as she wanted the opportunity to purchase and own her music herself … She had begged for the chance to own her work long before the sale was made,” said The Wrap.
Swift took back her power by re-recording her first six albums Braun bought, and she named them “Taylor’s Version.” She also added new tracks to the albums called “From The Vault” tracks, meaning they were supposed to be released the first time, but weren’t.
Being a fan watching her gain ownership of her own music and release albums with 20 plus songs on them made me love Taylor Swift even more. She still has two more albums to rerecord, “Reputation” and her self-titled debut album, “Taylor Swift,” and since the rerecords have become so popular and inspiring, the hype around these two albums is huge, boosting her career even more.
I consider myself one of the biggest “Swifties” out there because of her songwriting abilities and the way she connects with her fans. Her lyrics seem to always touch me in the perfect way and I genuinely have an emotional connection to many of her songs.
I waited two years to get tickets for the Eras Tour. I traveled from Columbus to New Orleans just to see the concert, and I can’t explain the joy that came over me when Taylor took the stage. Some people may call this dramatic, but the show is so special, not only because of Taylor herself, but also the production, the dancers, the fans and the way a city gets brought to life when she arrives.
Bourbon Street was covered with confetti, the iconic friendship bracelets fans made due to a lyric in her song, “You’re On Your Own, Kid” and every bar was blaring her music. Locals there told me, “this is the safest Bourbon Street has ever been.”
Along with cities being brought to life through joy and celebration, the economic boost Taylor has brought to all the cities she’s performed in is so significant. Time Magazine said, “On the opening night in Glendale, Ariz., the concert brought in more revenue for local businesses than Super Bowl LVII, which was held back in February in the same stadium.”
Taylor performed multiple shows in each city she visited, meaning she performed the equivalent of two to three ‘super bowls’ every weekend. Swift has a way of creating music that breaks records, keeps her fans devoted and helps economies flourish, which allows her to dominate the music industry. Despite the Eras Tour officially being over, Swifties know there is more to come.
Kendall Timms is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Kendall Timms about her column? Email her at kt353720@ohio.edu.
