taylor swift is one of the most successful recording artists in history, and it’s not just about her music. As a savvy businesswoman, she has made smart decisions that have helped her rise to the top of the industry. She has a knack for crafting a narrative that resonates with her audience and has a talent for interpreting popular culture, making her a multi-faceted entertainer. She has been named ‘Female Artist of the Year’ at multiple awards shows and she’s also the youngest person to win a Grammy award for Album of the Year.
She is an acclaimed live performer, having embarked on her first world tour in 2009, which grossed over $63 million. She is also a gifted writer and has contributed to several movie soundtracks. In 2016 she wrote the song “This Is What You Came For” for Calvin Harris, and in 2017 she co-wrote with Zayn Malik for Fifty Shades Darker’s soundtrack. She also contributed two songs to the 2013 Disney Channel film Hannah Montana – “Crazier” and “You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home”.
Taylor started writing her own music at the age of 12, composing a cappella versions of popular songs. Her talent caught the attention of Scott Borchetta, a Nashville record producer who was starting his own label, Big Machine Records. He signed her to a multi-album deal, and she released her debut album Fearless in 2008, which became a massive success. The LP earned Swift a series of accolades including a VMA trophy and multiple AMA statues, as well as a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album.
After the success of Fearless, Swift shifted gears with 2010’s Speak Now, which was a more experimental and edgy work. The album was a commercial and critical hit, topping the US charts and earning her 3 more Grammys. The record was followed by the Speak Now World Tour, which grossed over $225 million.
The Speak Now era saw Swift collaborate with artists such as Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver. In 2020 she surprised fans with folklore and its sister record evermore, both of which were characterized by their introspection and restraint. They also marked her first foray into synth-pop music. Both albums debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, making her the only artist to have both their albums and singles achieve this feat.
In 2022, she released Midnights and continued to experiment with new sounds. She incorporated producers like Jack Antonoff into her musical palette and also performed in the Broadway production of Cats, which earned her a Tony nomination. She continued to tour with her new and classic material in the Eras Tour.
After her turbulent relationship with singer Kanye West, Swift moved away from country music, opting to take a more erratic approach to her musical style with the release of Reputation in 2019. It was met with mostly positive reviews, and critics praised her ability to navigate genre shifts successfully.
