Taylor Swift: singer, songwriter, director, actress and businesswoman. Among Swift’s many jobs and talents, she is, at her core, a pop culture icon. Though, according to social media assumptions, Swift was long viewed as a “silly” pop singer that writes songs about her “laundry list” of ex- boyfriends for her self-named “Swiftie” audience, there is little denial that Swift is the biggest pop star of the moment.

Swift has become such an influential pop culture icon that her almost cult-like following has garnered the attention of millions around the world through her 2020 sister albums “folklore” and “evermore,” the nostalgia of her re-recorded albums, viral TikTok videos of “The Eras Tour” and hidden “easter eggs” that send fans promoting wild theories on social media.

While over 50% of U.S. adults say they are fans of Swift according to a Morning Consult survey, the heart of Swift’s fan base are the teenage girls and the now-grown girls that have been a part of her rise to a cultural icon for years. These fans are likely now feeling vindicated with Swift’s rise from stardom to something on an entirely new level.

Swift’s stardom and devoted fanbase has left her open to projects and promotions that other artists may be restricted from. For example, Swift has reignited the once-dying vinyl industry. Swift’s 2022 album “Midnights” is the highest-selling vinyl of the 21st century. One in 25 of all vinyls sold in the United States in 2022 were one of Swift’s 10 albums.

According to Time Magazine, Swift made over $939 million from just the U.S. leg of her “The Eras Tour.” She is projected to surpass $1 billion on her international
tour.

In a survey of 350 students, over 37% of girls at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School attended or are planning to attend The Eras Tour. Her tour has boosted the economy of host cities exponentially, likely due to the influx of non-locals purchasing from local businesses, eating in local restaurants and staying in local hotels. This tour has boosted tourism in major cities, ultimately helping the hospitality/tourism industry, small businesses and the economy overall.

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While Taylor Swift’s music is what made us fall in love with her, it’s her unwavering commitment to being herself and her unapologetic authenticity that has empowered women all aroung the world to feel comfortable with themselves, embrace their individuality, speak up for themselves, and achieve their goals… her ability to empower her fans is what sets her apart from other artists.

— senior Aneesha Nookala