On August 9th, 2023, arguably one of the biggest pop stars on the planet announced another album – a re-recording of a previously released album. To the average person who may only listen to music on the radio, this may seem like no big deal. “It’s just some music, what’s the big issue?” But, to the millions of adoring fans around the world, this new album wasn’t just a “big issue,” it was everything.
Taylor Swift, born on December 13th, 1989, originally made her country debut back in 2006, long before she announced that she was going to release her version of “1989,” an album that was previously recorded under her prior label, Big Machine Records. Under Big Machine, Swift wrote and produced six full-length studio albums in just 13 years, spanning numerous genres from country to pop, and collecting an impressive fanbase that has amassed 273 million followers on Instagram, and 94.4 million followers on Twitter, or X.
After fulfilling her contract, Swift moved to sign to Universal Music Group alongside her company Taylor Swift Productions Inc. in 2018 after the release of her sixth critically acclaimed album “reputation.” The album broke numerous records upon its release, with a coinciding tour that also broke records, becoming the highest-grossing stadium tour in North America until Elton John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour that concluded earlier this year.
Swift has broken numerous records in almost all genres, and her future seems to be even brighter than what some people considered to be her “peak” back in 2014 with “1989.”
The “Blank Space” singer’s impact isn’t withheld by the walls of the music industry though. Swift has also been nominated for numerous awards for her music videos and cinematography, most recently winning a Hollywood Critics Association award for her short film “All Too Well.”
Overall, Swift has had an impact so big on the music industry, it only rivals The Beatles.
Taylor Swift has also had a surprising political impact too. Swift, at the beginning of her career, stayed out of politics, and remained quiet on important issues. In 2019, however, that changed. Swift urged her fanbase in one of the lead singles titled “You Need To Calm Down,” for her album “Lover” to support the Equality Act, which would, if passed one day, would protect those in the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination. Despite fierce criticism from conservatives, and from former president Donald Trump, Swift has continuously urged her fanbase to register to vote, take action against inequality, and more.
In a recent Instagram story, Swift urged her fanbase to register to vote on National Voter Registration Day. In response, multiple news outlets pointed out that voter registration increased that day.
The same year that she began taking a political stance, news came to light that the masters to Swift’s first six albums were being sold to notorious music industry manager, and known rival of Swift’s, Scott “Scooter” Braun.
In response to the news, she issued a statement on Tumblr addressing the issue.
“For years I asked, pleaded for a chance to own my work,” Swift said. “This is my worst case scenario.”
After the fiasco, famed singer Kelly Clarkson suggested to Swift in a Twitter post to re-record her old albums.
“@taylorswift13 just a thought, U should go in & re-record all the songs that U don’t own the masters on…” tweeted Clarkson.
Thus, the re-recordings seemingly began. On February 11th, 2021, Taylor Swift announced that she was releasing her second studio album, “Fearless.” However, the album would be accompanied with the tag of “Taylor’s Versions,” marking which albums she owned. Months later, the announcement for “Red (Taylor’s Version)” came along. She has collaborated with the likes of Keith Urban, Hayley Williams (of Paramore), and Phoebe Bridgers on the rerecording projects as well. And now, “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” is coming on October 27th as well.
Taylor Swift’s impact spans an almost immeasurable magnitude, and she will continue to leave an impact on the music industry, and society as a whole.
