She is by any measure the biggest pop star in the world, which has made her ability to retain her relatable appeal all the more impressive. But this week Taylor Swift seems to have made a rare misstep.
For decades her fans have watched her grow from a teenage country star to globally recognised billionaire, and she has taken them with her, thanks to her sharp lyrics about growing up, relationships and heartbreak. But it’s not just about the music. She has cultivated a unique connection with her Swifties, dropping clues in her music and content and encouraging them to decode it, explains the Guardian’s deputy music editor, Laura Snapes. And it has paid off. The Eras tour boosted the UK economy by £1bn.
So when she released The Life of a Showgirl a week ago, the hype was intense. But something seemed to go wrong. The Guardian’s chief pop and rock critic, Alexis Petridis, gave it a two-star review, and many fans voiced their disappointment. Nor was it just with an underwhelming music release. Suddenly her carefully crafted brand was being attacked, Nosheen Iqbal explains, from her beefs with other artists to the business model of offering extensive bonus content alongside the usual album releases. But is this really about Swift or a stepchange in the music industry?
Content shared from www.theguardian.com.