8 The News The RGS Gazette Issue 12 July 2024 I'm sure we have all heard a Taylor Swift song, from 'Shake it Off' to 'Love Story.' But how has she skyrocketed above other popular musicians and songwriters? Yes, it is her talent for writing incredible pop music; however, why has she become a bigger global star than the likes of Katy Perry? In recent years, her influence has increased massively since 2020. Firstly, is Taylor Swift really that popular? The short answer is, yes. The long answer is that she has the largest music tour in history and is still going today, followed by Elton John’s tour, which made a pitiful $939 million. In contrast, the worldfamous Eras Tour has made over $4 billion, averaging $2500 per second. That is utterly ridiculous; almost as much as the amount of carbon emissions she has released. In 2022, her private jet used about 8,300 tonnes. To put that in perspective, the average human uses about 20 tonnes in a lifetime. Clearly, her fan base chose to forget about that. Those fans were deemed one of the most devoted fan bases. These “Swifties” are, in fact, in their late 40s. This may explain why they decided to wear adult nappies to her tour so they didn't miss a second of how her music, and I quote, “perfectly captured every feeling I've ever had.” This practically sums up a “Swiftie” they only feel love, heartbreak and hate. But it doesn't stop there. As a result of her popular tour, in Edinburgh, homeless people given accommodation in hotels have been told to leave to allow Taylor Swift's fans to stay the night, which then led to the homeless being back on the streets. "homeless people given accommodation in hotels have been told to leave to allow Taylor Swift's fans in Edinburgh to stay the night," If that doesn't prove her popularity, I don't know what will. But, what causes these adults to be so devoted to her artwork? One of the few reasons I discovered is that Taylor Swift is aged 34, and the majority of her fans, 78% to be precise, are between the ages of 30 and 40. Many sources have suggested this is because fans feel like they have grown up with her and, “she is like the big sister I never had,” which I can agree may be a fair point. Another reason is her first hit album was when she was 16, which means she has been in the public eye for over half of her life, and most of her fans feel as if they have experienced the same thoughts and emotions as her, like teenage love with her song “Love Story.” Speaking of love, another reason she has so much popularity is her relationship with Travis Kelce, an American football player who recently won the Super Bowl. This relationship was either a fortunate coincidence or a very wellthoughtout PR stunt, which then led to a 400% spike in sales for her music. This has had 51,552,135,000 streams on Spotify alone. This means, in theory, everyone on the planet has streamed her music at least six times on Spotify alone. Finally, although I somewhat dislike her current music, the majority of her work is undeniably some of the best in the business. Her music, albeit repetitive, still connotes her incredible talent for songwriting. This, I believe, heavily outweighs the other reasons for her spike in popularity, as it is the foundation for all of her international influence. “Haters gonna hate,” but she is arguably one of the greatest songwriters of all time, which is why Taylor Swift is so popular. Charlie Kerr (Year 10) explores why Taylor Swift is so popular The Singer Who Took the World by Storm The Eras Tour (2024) Taylor Swift (2024)
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