Taylor Swift’s brilliance as a musician has long been established, but her acumen as a businesswoman is just as impressive. From her strategic moves and successful comebacks to her knack for branding herself, she’s managed to make a name for herself in the music industry as both a pop singer and an iconic figure who appeals to fans of all ages.
In an age where social media and celebrity culture are more connected than ever, it’s easy to see how Swift has earned such a following. Her ability to connect with her audience has created a devoted community of Swifties who feel like part of a larger group of people. They have formed their own identities by interacting with Taylor and have built friendships with fellow Swifties through her music. These relationships are what make her so popular and what has set her apart from other celebrities.
From the beginning, Taylor has worked hard to establish herself in the music industry. After catching the attention of Nashville songwriter Scott Borchetta at an industry showcase in 2005, she signed with Big Machine Records and began touring as a country artist. It was during this time that she honed her craft and developed into one of the most talented artists in the world.
After a short hiatus from the spotlight, Swift returned with her sixth album, reputation, in 2016. She released the album’s single “Look What You Made Me Do,” which was a rerecording of her fifth album’s lead single. It was an instant hit and dominated the charts, becoming her longest-running No. 1 song to date. The album also spawned two more hits in “Delicate” and “Blank Space.”
On her eighth studio album, 2020’s folklore, she took a break from the romance of her previous releases and focused on themes of self-love and self-care. The ruminative, low-fi record marked a shift in Taylor’s sound, and featured collaborations with artists such as Aaron Dessner from the National and Bon Iver who helped create the distinct, lo-fi production style. Both the album and its lead single, “willow,” debuted atop the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts.
In 2022, she turned up the romance with Midnights and returned to the softer, bed-like sounds of her first foray into pop with 2024’s The Tortured Poets Department. The acoustic album features guest appearances from Post Malone and Florence + the Machine and is her most specific, candid and unsparing work to date.
With every album, single and video release, Taylor continues to surprise the public with her idiosyncratic brand of music. Her next record is slated for release in 2023, and it’s expected to incorporate a heavier electronic influence. It will be interesting to see how she can merge the genres of hip hop and R&B with her signature pop sound without alienating her fan base. Whatever she decides to do, there’s no doubt that it will be another record-breaking effort. It’s not every day that we see an artist pull off a feat of this magnitude, and Taylor’s fans can’t wait to see what she has in store for them next.
