Over a dozen universities were expected to offer courses on Taylor Swift this semester, ranging on topics from impact to lyricism. Our very own university is currently offering a similar course in the honors program, titled “Taylor Swift: Through the Eras.” In a previous article, Technician covered why her career and cultural impact made her an ideal course focus over women in music or femininity in general.
I do not consider myself a “Swiftie,” as many of her fans do, but I cannot deny the significance of her career. The music of an artist like Hozier, with alt-folk influence and poetic lyricism, is far more my style. Unlike Hozier, however, Swift has paved the way and set numerous records in the music industry. She’s won 209 awards, including 14 Grammys. Four of these Grammys were for Album of the Year.
A unique characteristic of Swift’s career is her ability to achieve feats through her music. Forbes confirmed in April 2024 that she is the first artist to achieve billionaire status based on music alone.
The consistency for her to have a devoted and international following throughout her career is something that you can associate with few musicians. The only others I think of with similar impacts are Michael Jackson, Beyoncé and Prince. Each of these artists holds an important place in history, and no doubt will be discussed for decades to come.
There are some distinctions between these artists, however. This is not to compare influence but to recognize that she has been nearly exclusively focused on music as a solo artist for nearly two decades. I in no way want to minimize the talent or impact of the other artists mentioned, but I want to recognize that their groupendeavors and successful projects external to music, such as acting, are intertwined with their impressive careers.
Hozier focuses on music primarily as well, working on personal work as well as composing for movie soundtracks. This is in a similar vein to Swift, but his genre and topics are less digestible for a broader audience. His themes of religion and politics are worth reflecting on, but any taboos may restrict interest or be difficult to market from an educational perspective.
Swift’s fanbase is so committed to following her efforts that her relationship with Chiefs quarterback Travis Kelce brought an entirely new audience to the NFL. Despite backlash to media attention on the pop star at games, there was a 20% increase in sponsorships, a 53% viewership increase among teenage girls and a 24% increase in the 18-24 demographic overall since her relationship with the NFL player went public. Anything that Swift is noted to associate with creates vast interest and impact.
Swift has been traveling the world for nearly two years on the Eras Tour, with 150+ concert dates planned, many of which are sold out. The tour in the U.S. is estimated to have caused 0.5% of national economic growth for the fiscal year due to $5 billion in consumer spending. She also released “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” movie, which grossed $261 million globally and became the top-grossing concert film of all time.
As an entity, Swift remains impressive. Dan Fleetwood, President of QuestionPro Research and Insights, said “If [Swift] were an economy, she’d be bigger than 50 countries; if she was a corporation, her Net Promoter Score would make her the fourth most admired brand, and her loyalty numbers mimic those of subjects to a royal crown.”
Regardless of anyone’s opinion of Swift and her music, her impact and influence are undeniable. Anyone interested in an economic, cultural, musical or influential perspective of history would benefit from taking a course centered around her. Other artists may make interesting additions to study alongside her, but it feels naive to attempt to replace her spot.
