photo credit: Natalia Favila Inacua
“Tim McGraw” was released in 2006, sparking the beginning of country singer Taylor Swift’s career. In 2014, “Shake It Off” was released, shifting Swift to the pop music scene. In 2022, Swift released “Anti-Hero”, breaking various records and proving Swift’s power to stay at the top of the music industry decades after releasing her first song.
Taylor Swift is taking the world by storm as one of the largest pop stars on the globe right now. She is currently performing on The Eras Tour, which has grossed over $780 million, according to Forbes.
“Taylor is so influential right now because she’s currently on tour and has been forever, so everyone is talking about her,” junior Sophia Kulesa said. Kulesa attended two dates of The Eras Tour in Atlanta and Cincinnati.
The Eras Tour garnered a massive audience and had people traveling far and wide, spending hundreds to thousands of dollars on tickets and wearing different outfits and costumes resembling Swift and her eras of music. It’s a three-hour show that spans all 10 of her albums or eras.
“The Eras Tour really gained an audience when people realized it was going to be all of her albums, and they could hear their favorite songs that they’ve never heard before,” Kulesa said.
On Oct. 13, Swift released “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” in theaters. This concert movie was received highly from fans and set multiple records. It’s the highest-grossing concert film of all time, according to Screen Rant.
“Since concert ticket prices were so expensive and also extremely hard to buy because the demand was so high, this gave a more affordable price to people who wanted to see it and couldn’t,” senior and Swiftie Club President Kyleigh Jochum said.
One of the biggest musical aspects of Swift’s career right now is putting out re-recordings of some of her previous albums. After having the masters of her music taken from her, she decided to go through the process of re-recording and has put out four of her six planned re-recorded albums. Most recently, Swift released “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” on Oct. 27. All the re-recorded music she puts out has “Taylor’s Version” in parentheses to denote that she owns it.
“Taylor is re-recording her music to own her work because her previous record label sold it to someone else even though she expressed she wanted to buy it,” Jochum said. “It could influence other artists on owning their own work and helping them realize that they should if they want to own it. It could also inspire re-records from other artists who couldn’t buy their work.”
Swift has been putting out music since 2006, and her growth in the music industry has no signs of slowing down. Swift has a massive fanbase that is always willing to support her and her music. According to Morning Consult, 53 percent of adults that live in America would consider themselves to be fans of Swift.
“I love Taylor Swift because of her music. Her songs are so relatable, and her lyrics are emotional. Her songs let you get to look into her life while also being able to apply to anyone. I love that I can pick an album to match any mood I’m in,” Jochum said. “I love all of the Easter eggs, and I love talking about the re-records. Everything about being a Taylor fan is fun.”
One of the more recent revelations that has shown Swift’s impact on culture is her link to the NFL, more specifically due to her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce. Her attendance at football games has even inspired her fans to tune in to games.
“It has brought another demographic of people watching it because of the link. Personally, I have even started watching the Chiefs games because I love seeing her and also love hearing everyone talk about her,” Jochum said.
Taylor Swift is a highly influential figure in the media. With her music, tour and movie, it’s nearly impossible to go online without hearing Swift’s name. She has one of the most devoted fan bases in the world and seems as though she plans to continue making music and performing for many years to come.
“Many people relate to her music, and many people love how she is able to write emotions out so perfectly when for many people it is extremely hard to put words to what they’re feeling. She is also as influential as she connects with her fans on a more personal level whether that be through her music or Easter eggs that she leaves.”
Especially at the height of The Eras Tour, even if you don’t like her music, you will probably still like her show, and it also connects with a broad audience,” Jochum said.
