Taylor Swift (Sequoia’s version)
BY SARINA SANGHVI AND LUCIA KITCHING Staff Reporters
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With over 80.3 million listeners per month on Spotify and 12 Grammys, Taylor Swift is one of the most successful artists of recent times. “Even if you’re not a fan of pop music, there is definitely a Taylor Swift song for everyone,” senior Jessica Wagner said. Over the course of her music career, each of Swift’s new albums correlated to a different “era” with different styles of music and personalities. From her early country music to the edgy, bold vibes of “Reputation”, to the upbeat pop of “Lover”, to the poetic lyrics Photo by Lucia Kitching of “Folklore”, she covers a wide variety of genres. Despite writing all of her own music over the past 17 years, Swift’s first six albums were owned by “Big Machine Records”. She tried to buy them but never gained ownership of and not the people who just want money gaining ownership of her work is less of a the master recordings of her albums because from it,” Wagner said. financial issue and more of a choice to come of record executive Scooter Braun. This It is easy for small, independent back from being taken advantage of. w s h t o n led to many feuds between Swift list de So I think whether or not she owned her en artists to be taken advantage of and Braun and finally in reaction, stu f by large record companies versions of the songs or not, like financially Swift decided to re-record all who solely want profits. isn’t that big of a deal, but on a more personal of her past albums, renaming Taylor Swift is a role model level,” Chatham said. “I think she promotes them “Taylor’s Version”. for many of these artists the importance that when you create art, it “They chose to and shows them that they should belong to you and it shouldn’t be other undermine her so her should be able to take people deciding how that art gets produced, reaction was totally valid,” ownership of their work and who reaps the benefits of that art.” senior Eva Smith said. and passion. With the upcoming “Eras” tour, more In April 2021, “Fearless “I think that it sets people are listening to and streaming Taylor (Taylor’s Version)”, the rea really cool precedent Swift than ever. In addition to preparing for recording of her 2008 album specifically for newer, more the highly anticipated tour covering all of her “Fearless” was released, and independent artists to recognize previous eras, she is also actively releasing “Red (Taylor’s Version)”, the rethe value that their music has,” Megan new music and rerecordings. The night before recording of her 2012 album “Red” was Chatham, English II ICAP and English her opening in Glendale, Arizona, also known released in November 2021. Even though IV teacher said. “And hopefully by her as “Swift City”, she released three new it was not new music, “Taylor’s Version” rs who liste recordings as well as a brand new recording her own versions and by e (TV) became extremely popular and broke n te n t single, “All the Girls You Loved owning her masters, that sets a lis streaming records and charts. o S precedent for newer artists Before”. “Her community grew at the time when to do the same thing to “Releasing new music she released [her albums] folklore and not end up in situations the night before her big evermore, and so her fans were spreading the where they signed tour is a big moment message about “Taylor’s Version” and people contracts that might especially because people realized how important it was,” Wagner said. potentially leave them are excited that she might “Red (TV)” became the most streamed without any ownership be performing it,” Wagner album from a female artist in one day with of their music.” said. 90.8 million streams on its release date. She Many people argue that The overwhelming became the single most-streamed female Taylor Swift is extremely excitement and support for artist in a day on Spotify. After four days, “Red wealthy and successful, so the Swift’s new music during her (TV)” surpassed the original in streams and version of her songs that you tours further reinforces “Taylor’s social media attention. listen to doesn’t matter because she Version” and her cause. “People should support her and her music will be gaining money regardless. However,