Why Taylor Swift Is BIGGER Than Ever Before

Zach, a self-proclaimed "Swiftologist," delves into Taylor Swift's remarkable career resurgence, emphasizing her evolution from intense fan engagement to an icon whose mere presence commands unwavering devotion. Despite the past "Taylor Swift is over" party, Swift's relevance and star power have only intensified, with her tours poised to break records and her music consistently topping charts. Zach compares the fervor surrounding Swift to the Beatles' "Beatlemania," noting her unique ability to maintain and grow her fan base across generations. He credits a "perfect storm" of luck, timing, and demand for Swift's sustained success nearly two decades into her career, surpassing expectations and turning the world into her oyster. Moreover, Zach highlights Swift's strategic use of social media and re-recordings of her music to strengthen parasocial relationships and engage both long-time fans and new listeners, further solidifying her position as a cultural powerhouse.

• Taylor Swift's public image has transformed significantly over the years.
• The relationship between Swift and her fans has evolved from intense personal interactions to a more abstracted form of engagement.
• Swift's actions now, like a simple wave, are enough to maintain her fans' adoration.
• The shift in fan engagement reflects a broader change in Swift's career strategy.

"Years after the fabled cancellation and 'Taylor Swift is over' party, Taylor Swift has soared to new heights as her star power and her position in our public imagination has only grown stronger over the years."

This quote highlights the resurgence of Taylor Swift's career and public image following a period of intense scrutiny and "cancellation."

• Swift's current tour is expected to be the highest-grossing tour of all time.
• Her influence is compared to the Beatles' impact during the 1960s.
• The blurring of lines between casual fans and die-hard supporters is unique to Swift's current era.
• Swift's continued relevance nearly 20 years into her career is considered unusual in the music industry.

"Speaking of this tour, it's expected to be the highest-grossing tour of all time, generating a billion dollars and putting the woman herself into billionaire territory."

This quote emphasizes the commercial success of Taylor Swift's tour and its potential to elevate her to billionaire status.

• Taylor Swift has managed to maintain and grow her relevance with young audiences, including Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
• Swift's career longevity is attributed to a "perfect storm" of luck, timing, and demand.
• The current phase of Swift's career may exceed even her own expectations.

"What's so peculiar about her is how she has maintained and increased her relevancy nearly 20 years into her career."

This quote points out the rarity of an artist like Taylor Swift maintaining cultural relevance for such an extended period.

• Zach identifies as the "Swiftologist" and creates content about Taylor Swift.
• He plans to release career retrospectives and reactions to Swift's music, particularly focusing on the "1989" era.
• Zach also hosts a podcast and streams on Twitch, offering exclusive content on Patreon.

"Welcome to my channel or welcome back to my channel, my name is Zach, I am the Swiftologist."

This quote serves as an introduction to Zach's channel, where he focuses on content related to Taylor Swift.

• Zach considers the "Lover" era to be a messy period in Swift's career.
• The documentary "Miss Americana" is seen as a reflection of Swift's mindset during the transition from the "Reputation" era.
• Swift contemplated scaling down her career and even considered writing for other artists.
• The "Lover" album is critiqued as overproduced and an attempt to manufacture a moment.

"The lover era was a hot mess... the album that she constructed amidst all of this like inner turmoil and self-doubt was in my opinion an overproduced forced attempt at manufacturing a moment."

This quote provides Zach's critical perspective on the "Lover" era, suggesting it was a challenging time for Swift both personally and professionally.

• Swift faced pressure to produce hits after changing record labels and fighting for ownership of her masters.
• The promotional strategy for the "Lover" album is criticized for lacking coherence.
• Despite mixed reviews, the "Lover" album marked a period of critical softening towards Swift.
• Swift's vindication in the Kanye West phone call controversy and her Rolling Stone interview are noted as significant moments.

"She had just switched labels after... a pretty contested battle for ownership of her master recordings and she was probably under pressure to manufacture a hit straight away."

This quote suggests that industry pressures influenced the creation and promotion of the "Lover" album, impacting its authenticity.

• Taylor Swift faced public pressure to be political yet entertaining, to move past grudges, and to return to writing about love.
• She planned 'Loverfest' as a victory lap, but it was overshadowed by a lack of enduring hits, except for "Cruel Summer."
• The public's Taylor Mania contributed to the success of "Cruel Summer."

"Taylor Swift was the pandemic when it seemed like the world had shut down and Life as we knew it was over."

The quote highlights the unexpected turn in Taylor Swift's career brought about by the global pandemic, marking a pivotal moment for her.

• The pandemic allowed Swift to step back from the demanding pop star lifestyle.
• She found relief in the pause of public life, which halted usual promotional activities.
• The collective introspection and social justice movements during the pandemic influenced the public's music preferences.

"She could tap out of the pop star Rat Race that had been plaguing her mind for so long."

This quote emphasizes the break Swift took from the relentless pace of her career, which was instrumental in her creative resurgence.

• Swift's album 'folklore' was created in isolation and marked a departure from her previous sound.
• She collaborated with Aaron Dessner of The National, indicating a move towards moodier, alternative music.
• The album was a response to the public's need for escapism and introspection during the pandemic.

"She created this album in secret. and she brought a new collaborator seriously into the fold of her repertoire in a way that she hasn't done in a long time."

This quote describes Swift's secretive and innovative approach to creating 'folklore,' including the introduction of a new key collaborator.

• Swift's surprise release of 'folklore' was uncharacteristic of her usual calculated promotional strategies.
• The decision to release the album with little notice was a gamble that paid off due to the unique circumstances of the pandemic.
• Swift's announcement post reflected a shift in her perspective on releasing music, favoring immediacy over perfect timing.

"She did the least Taylor Swift thing that she could ever possibly do and surprise dropped the record."

The quote captures the unexpected nature of 'folklore's' release, which was a significant departure from Swift's typical release strategy.

• 'folklore' received acclaim for its storytelling and production, reconnecting Swift with her songwriting roots.
• The album's themes allowed listeners to project their own narratives, providing a sense of connection during isolation.
• The marketing of 'folklore' as a fictional work allowed Swift to explore new themes beyond her personal life.

"So folklore comes out and it is a smash for several reasons critically and commercially."

This quote summarizes the success of 'folklore,' highlighting its impact both in terms of critical reception and commercial performance.

• Collaborations with artists like Bon Iver and Aaron Dessner lent indie credibility to Swift's work.
• 'folklore' demonstrated Swift's versatility as an artist and solidified her status beyond pop music.

"Critics loved This Record because it combined her best skill with some indie credibility."

The quote reflects the critical acclaim 'folklore' received, which was partly due to the indie artists Swift collaborated with on the album.

• Swift followed up 'folklore' with 'evermore,' which was similarly well-received for its storytelling and immersive quality.
• These back-to-back albums strengthened Swift's connection with both long-time fans and new audiences.

"This project was so successful that she followed it up at the end of the year with a sister album Evermore which was also adored for exactly the same reasons."

The quote discusses the continued success Swift found with the release of 'evermore,' reinforcing the achievements of 'folklore.'

• The re-recording of Swift's older albums allowed her to reintroduce her past works to new fans.
• The process created a sense of ongoing engagement with her music and contributed to the phenomenon known as Taylor Mania.

"Taylor's re-recordings process really gave her this rare and unique opportunity to onboard the newer fans she had picked up during the folk lmore era."

This quote explains how the re-recording of older albums played a strategic role in expanding Swift's fan base and maintaining momentum in her career.

• Human psychology drives people to want to be part of an "in-the-know" group.
• Taylor Swift's career thrives on fan engagement through lore, Easter eggs, and discussions among fans.
• Fans generate content, which perpetuates interest in her work and reduces reliance on mainstream media.

"beginning human psychology is very simple people love being part of the in the know group and there's so much tailor lore to know and. to mine I mean you know I've kind of made a whole career out of it"

This quote emphasizes the basic human desire to be included and have insider knowledge, which Taylor Swift has capitalized on throughout her career.

• Taylor Swift has created a monoculture in a fragmented media landscape.
• She strategically leaves "breadcrumbs" for fans to follow, which generates buzz and reduces the need for traditional media promotion.
• The "Vault songs" added value to her re-recorded albums, incentivizing fans to engage with the content.

"all she has to do is drop it and leave breadcrumbs and we really do the rest for her this drastically reduces her need and her Reliance on mainstream media"

The quote explains how Taylor Swift's marketing approach allows her to leverage fan engagement to amplify her projects, making mainstream media less necessary.

• Taylor Swift raised awareness about intellectual property rights and predatory label contracts.
• Her battle with Scooter Braun highlighted issues in artist ownership.
• Her re-recorded albums going to number one again demonstrated her influence and the industry's attention to her actions.

"she also raised a large amount of awareness for younger artists about intellectual property exposing more about predatory label contracts and in inspiring artists to fight for ownership and control of their own work"

This quote outlines Taylor Swift's role in educating artists and the public about the importance of owning one's work and the challenges within the music industry.

• The re-recording of Taylor Swift's albums has been met with excitement and critical interest.
• The 10-minute version of "All Too Well" became an iconic addition to her re-recorded album "Red."
• These re-recordings help onboard new die-hard fans and deepen existing parasocial relationships.

"this was truly just the perfect storm long before Taylor lost control of her Masters before we even made it into the 1989 era swifties were hounding Taylor for this once- mentioned 10-minute version of a song"

This quote captures the anticipation and fan fervor surrounding the extended version of "All Too Well," which became a significant part of Taylor Swift's re-recording campaign.

• Taylor Swift shifted from being a pop star to an indie artist and then returned to pop with "Midnights."
• The marketing of "Midnights" was a case study in in-house promotion, relying on fan-generated content rather than traditional media.
• Despite not being artistically challenging, "Midnights" was a commercial success due to strategic releases and viral marketing.

"the Midnight's promo was kind of a test for this new era of Taylor Swift's career how can we do all of this marketing for a major pop culture moment in-house without relying on anyone outside of the Taylor Swift brand"

The quote discusses the innovative promotional strategy for "Midnights," which involved minimal traditional media engagement and maximized fan involvement.

• Taylor Swift's "Eras" tour is on track to be the highest-grossing tour of all time.
• The tour has led to potential Anti-Trust legislation against Ticketmaster and has a significant social media presence.
• The tour's success is partly due to luck, timing, and a strong product, further cementing Taylor Swift's status in the industry.

"the IRS tour is the aha moment of Taylor Swift's career and maybe the highlight of it all completely I think that much of where Taylor's gotten to now has not been planned out it's been accidental so much of success in the entertainment industry is about luck and timing and Taylor has great luck and a great product"

This quote acknowledges the role of serendipity in the entertainment industry, highlighting how Taylor Swift's "Eras" tour epitomizes the peak of her career and the culmination of her strategic efforts combined with fortunate circumstances.

• Taylor Swift added 52 shows, eventually totaling 80 dates, for her international tour.
• Despite the extensive tour, the demand for tickets exceeded the number of available dates.
• Swift's tour is her most international one to date.
• The film associated with the tour represents a groundbreaking approach in the entertainment industry.
• Swift negotiated a direct distribution deal with movie theaters and financed the film herself, bypassing traditional Hollywood studios.
• Taylor Swift operates independently, serving as her own marketing, publicity, and PR departments.
• The success of Taylor Swift suggests she may not need a record label anymore.

"This all just goes on to show that Taylor Mania really is about having Taylor be like a one-woman operation; she is the marketing department, she is publicity, she is PR."

This quote highlights Swift's autonomy in her career, managing multiple roles typically handled by separate departments or external partners, and her ability to succeed independently in the entertainment industry.

• The concept of Taylor Mania is compared to Beatlemania.
• The comparison is based on criteria from Trun Fans' newsletter: concentration of demand, national mood, and the boost from new technology.

"So here is where I think Beatlemania comes in as a really good contrast and example with the Eras tour."

The speaker draws a parallel between the fan fervor surrounding The Beatles and Taylor Swift, hinting at underlying factors that contribute to the widespread popularity of both.

• The Beatles saw a rapid increase in demand in the US after a delayed promotion.
• The Beatles' appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show marked a significant breakthrough in America.
• Taylor Swift's last major tour was in 2018, and the gap until the Eras tour, along with her prolific music releases, created pent-up demand.
• The release of Swift's album "Midnights" and subsequent demand for tour tickets led to Ticketmaster crashing.

"Taylor's last major tour before the Eras tour was in 2018, and fans were eagerly awaiting her return, especially after the four studio albums and two re-recorded albums in the intervening years."

The quote explains the intense demand for Taylor Swift's Eras tour, driven by her fans' anticipation and her significant musical output during the years between tours.

• The Beatles emerged during a period of mourning after JFK's assassination.
• The Beatles provided a source of joy during a dark time for the national psyche.
• Similarly, the Eras tour coincided with the end of COVID-19 restrictions and economic uncertainty.
• Taylor Swift's tour was anticipated to boost local economies and received significant recognition from cities.

"The Eras tour specifically was anticipated to boost local economy significantly wherever it went."

This quote emphasizes the expected positive economic impact of Taylor Swift's tour on local economies, demonstrating the broader influence of her artistry beyond just music.

• The Beatles' popularity was amplified by the rise of transistor radios.
• Taylor Swift's social media presence grew significantly, particularly on Instagram and TikTok.
• Swift's strategic use of social media kept her music and tour trending.
• Her tour incorporated social media elements, like costume changes and setlist variations, to fuel online discussions.

"Taylor's adept use of social media... ensured that the music and her tour remained a trending topic."

This quote underscores Swift's skillful use of social media to maintain public interest and engagement with her music and tour.

• Taylor Swift's current era of popularity is unprecedented, with less reliance on external partnerships.
• The success of the Midnight's album and tour is largely driven by Swift's own efforts.
• Swift's career has continued to grow, defying expectations of overexposure.

"This era of Taylor Swift's popularity is something that we really just haven't seen."

The speaker reflects on the unique and unparalleled level of success and cultural dominance that Taylor Swift has achieved through her own initiatives.

• Taylor Swift's continued fame raises questions about the importance of maintaining her status.
• Swift has shown a renewed interest in being a prominent public figure.
• The potential risks of overexposure are juxtaposed with Swift's intuitive understanding of when to engage with the public.

"Right now she knows that it's time to play and milk it for all it's worth."

This quote suggests that Swift is consciously capitalizing on her current popularity, indicating a strategic approach to her public engagement and career management.

• The speaker promotes their platform, Swiftolist, for cataloging Taylor Swift's endeavors.
• An invitation to subscribe for more content on Swift, including a special focus on the 1989 era.
• Upcoming Twitch streams will include a deep dive into Demi Lovato's career and a Taylor Swift concert movie viewing.

"I'm going to be talking about Demi Lovato, doing a deep dive into her career, and watching another Taylor Swift concert movie."

The speaker announces upcoming content that will explore other artists' careers and continue to feature Taylor Swift, encouraging viewers to stay tuned and subscribe for more insights.