I’M not a super fan, but Taylor Swift’s latest moves have had me standing up and applauding in front of my computer screen.
I’ve always considered her beautiful, and a very relatable songwriter. I laughed hard when, during a 2015 Grammy Awards interview, she glared at Entertainment Tonight TV reporter Nancy O’Dell, who stupidly asked if she would be leaving with “a lot of men.” (Well, the girl has dated a lot of guys, but that was still a stupid question.) “I’m not going to walk home with any men tonight,” Taylor deadpanned. “I’m going to hang out with my friends, and then I go home to the cats.” (Yes, she loves cats; I would probably be a bigger fan if she loved dogs as much.)
Since then, however, the girl has just become a bigger and bigger star, and obviously, one who doesn’t take crap from anyone—which is wonderful. And since BTS’ regrouping is a long way away, I’m being tempted to try and score a Taylor Swift concert ticket in the meantime, mainly because of what she represents. She’s showing people how a 21st century female celebrity should be—smart, savvy, not backing down against industry bullies, but still human. Well, she’s dated a lot of a-holes and has her share of haters, but you can’t please everyone—and she seems to be okay with that idea. Besides, a lot more people are pleased than pissed, if concert sales are your indicators.
The singer and songwriter has just concluded the American leg of her Eras world concert tour, is headed for South America in November, and will be in Asia in 2024, with stops in Singapore and Tokyo. Even the Harvard Gazette says Eras is “on track to be the highest-grossing concert tour of all time, at $1.4 billion, when it ends next year. Analysts estimate the tour will also have a total economic impact from tour-related spending of $5 billion on host cities. Even the Federal Reserve noted the effect her tour is having on regional economies.” One article notes how that’s bigger than the GDP of some countries!
The Eras Tour is ‘on track to be the highest-grossing concert tour of all time’—even bigger than the GDP of some countries!
In an article posted last September 3, “Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour movie made it into theaters by sidestepping Hollywood studios,” insider.com’s Jason Guerrasio reveals how the Swift family closed the deal to bring the movie version of the tour to the big screen beginning October 13 by talking directly with the American movie theater chain AMC—eliminating the middlemen, the big Hollywood distributors, who, Guerrasio notes, may very well be fuming to not get a piece of the pie. Add the fact that “AMC announced Friday that the concert movie has become the highest advance sales revenue day in the company’s 103-year history,” and you see why the 33-year-old former Nashville performer has become a cultural, anti-establishment maverick of sorts.
(Official trailer of the Eras Tour movie: https://fb.watch/mRCGUAU1Qj/ – From Taylor Swift Facebook page)
Then there’s the fact that she’s halfway through re-recording six of her early albums after her first label sold the initial rights to music manager Scooter Braun. Braun, in turn, re-sold them in 2019 for a reportedly mind-boggling amount. The best part: The new recordings (which include Taylor’s version in their titles to distinguish them from the originals, which are still making money for Braun) are topping the charts again. “…She’s long understood that artists, even those with brands as powerful as hers, are vulnerable to exploitation,” reports Time magazine.
Eras Tour pictures from taylorswift.fandom.com.
So add artists’ rights activist to Taylor’s list of titles. “Taylor Swift’s seismic impact on the music industry over the past 17 years since her debut isn’t limited to her unparalleled commercial success, but also encompasses her influence on everything from artists’ rights to smashing the traditional album release model to changing the conversation about song rights and ownership,” reports Billboard online in a post last August 28. “She’s an advocate, a style icon, a marketing wiz, a prolific songwriter, a pusher of visual boundaries, and a record-breaking road warrior. And she sells a ton of albums—including, as we’ve seen over the past couple of years, remakes of her old ones.”
Indeed, Taylor is the responsible influencer (in the most legit sense of the word) who is as shrewd as she is “America’s sweetheart,” comfy in chiffon and sequins as she is in leather and brandishing a whip. She’s part of a generation of female performers who know what they’re worth, and are taking control of their career and their money—think Rihanna, Beyoncé.
The amazing thing is, she’s still apparently…nice. There are several reports of how she surprises fans, showed up for a friend’s engagement party upon request, and is actually welcoming of little girls who run up and hug her.
Taylor gave away $55 million in bonuses—including a ‘life-changing’ $100,000 for each truck driver
The clincher, however, was reported by Forbes Magazine’s Hugh McIntyre last August 28, in the well-titled article “Hollywood Should Take Note Of Taylor Swift’s Kindness.” (See how she’s being covered not just by celebrity rags, but even by business magazines? Interesting.) Talking about her “extraordinary gesture of generosity,” McIntyre reports on how Taylor gave away $55 million in bonuses—including a “life-changing” $100,000 for each truck driver who transported people and props from one American city to another during her US leg.
Taylor can well afford it—she’s expected to bring home half a billion dollars from this mega tour, net—but “Swift realizes that her current success is thanks to a lot of people working hard behind the scenes,” McIntyre notes. “But she didn’t just say thank you. She showed her appreciation in the most practical way possible: with money.”
McIntyre even references the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike in Hollywood that started in May, and is getting drawn out because of the refusal of big producers to make concessions (read: increase salaries). “Those who have the power to resolve the Hollywood strike might want to consider what Swift has done. Her generous actions not only made everyone happy and earned her some well-deserved good will among millions, but those bonuses will surely continue to ensure that her money-printing venture goes well from here on out.”
In other words, while looking and sounding wonderful, Taylor Swift invested in some things that are, well, priceless—kindness and goodwill—without being a Pollyanna.
More power, Tay Tay. Oh, and girl, you date whoever you want.
Eras Tour pictures from taylorswift.fandom.com.
