Taylor Swift is in a league all her own—that has been a fact for many years now. But, even before she became the cultural force she is today, she stood out from her peers. Why? Because she has always been committed to running her career in any way she sees fit—precedent be damned. Below, are three times Swift has laughed in the face of industry standards.
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1. Taking music off Spotify
Not just any artist can afford to ignore a major listening source. Swift, however, took a step back from the streaming behemoth that is Spotify in 2014. She completely took her music off of the platform, citing a belief that music should not be free. Several iconic artists have done the same for a myriad of reasons. Though she is back on the streaming side, we admire her bravery in taking the load less traveled and her commitment to artist’s rights to their own music.
2. Giving power back to the fans
While Swift ultimately has the last word on her career, she’s also given her fans a large amount of power. From her cleverly concealed easter eggs to personal invites to her house, her fan appeasement is unparalleled.
Swift was an early adopter of using social media to connect with her fanbase. By doing so, she made them a part of the musical process. Instead of being passive listeners, the Swifties are as much a part of Swift’s team as anyone else in her camp. Since Swift decided to go this route, many other musicians have followed suit.
3. (Taylor’s Version)
Perhaps Swift’s biggest slight to the powers that be is her Taylor’s Version project. She’s not the first artist to re-record their music, but hers is undoubtedly one of the most famous cases. Now, several albums into the project, she has rewritten the script for musical releases.
What was originally conceived as a way to get back at her old label head has turned into an empowering resurgence of her own story. Moreover, it spawned one of the biggest tours of all time.
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