Beyond the Lyrics: What Makes Taylor Swift Time's Person of the Year?

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The global pop sensation, whose Eras tour broke box office records and provoked an investigation into Ticketmaster's sales practices, ultimately cemented her place among the likes of Barack Obama, Greta Thunberg, and Volodymyr Zelensky. And as Swift herself told Time, "the proudest and happiest I've ever felt."

When she was talking with the magazine she also admitted that the toll of her 180-minute Eras concerts often left her feeling physically exhausted. 

Swift said, that after a run of concerts, she doesn’t leave her bed except to get food and take it back to her bed and eat it there. "I can barely speak because I've been singing for three shows straight. Every time I take a step my feet go crunch, crunch, crunch from dancing in heels." She added. 

The star also talked about her flourishing romance with American Football star Travis Kelce. The two hit the headlines in September when Swift was spotted with Kelce’s mother at one of his games. 

Taylor openly confirmed, "By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple," adding the couple had first hooked up over the summer. "I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game. We would never be psychotic enough to hard-launch a first date." She added. 

Why is Taylor Swift Time Magazine Person of the Year?

Fundamentally, Time Magazine named Taylor Swift Person of the Year because she is believed to have had the most influence on global events over the past years. But of course, many factors have contributed to her influence on global events. 

And Swift’s love life with Travis Kelce is small beans compared to her cultural impact. Because of her Eras tour, she is already a superstar before 2023, which sees the single platform a career spanning 45 song sets every night. Media explained the demand for the Eras our’s tickets as “astronomical", with 3.5 million swifties registering for the Ticketmaster's Verified Fan pre-sale program in the U.S.

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Demand for her Eras Tour tickets was so high that it crashed Ticketmaster’s website, leading to inquiry into its business practices by the US Senate. But, surprisingly 2.4 million tickets were sold, breaking the record for the highest single-day ticket sales ever by an artist. In the summer, when the tour began, ticketless fans gathered in car parks just to hear the music. In Seattle, Taylor’s concerts generated seismic activity equivalent to a 2.3 magnitude earthquake. 

Taylor told Time Magazine, "It feels like the breakthrough moment of my career, happening at 33," she told Time. "And for the first time in my life, I was mentally tough enough to take what comes with that."

Her queenly reign comes after a period where she was vilified for her positions on feminism and politics - although her silence on those issues stemmed from nothing more sinister than a lack of confidence. Then she spoke out against Trump and for abortion rights and boom! Creativity explosion with those pandemic albums, Folklore and Evermore.

It represented a more organic, indie folk approach than the county pop that made Swift famous, the record confirmed her status as a generational songwriting talent. She captured her back with the top with last year’s Midnights, a bleary, sleep-deprived collection of pop songs based around the thoughts that keep her up at night.

Taylor Swift's Biggest Achievements 

Before Taylor Swift's Time Magzine, Time came up with its shortlist of 9 candidates for the Person of the Year title, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Barbie, and striking Hollywood actors and writers.

Source: Richer Sounds

Aside from this, Swift has also launched the biggest-selling record of 2023 - a re-recording of her decade-old album 1989. Incredibly, the iconic star also has 

the second and third biggest-sellers of the year in America, with Midnights and Speaks Now (Taylor's Version) eclipsing records by Drake, Olivia Rodrigo, and Ed Sheeran.

Here are amongst Taylor Swift’s other achievements this year: 

• Swift’s Eras tour film became the biggest concert movie of all time, with a total of $249m (£197m) at the global box office.
• Taylor Swift became the first living artist to have five albums in the US Top 10 simultaneously, with 1989, Midnights, Folklore, Lover, and Speak Now.
• Swift broke the record for the most number-one albums by a woman in US chart history - 13 in total - overtaking Barbara Streisand.
• She became the first songwriter to score seven Grammy nominations for Song of the Year, overtaking Sir Paul McCartney and Lionel Richie.
• With eight sold-out nights at Wembley Stadium, Taylor equals a UK touring record set by Take That.
• Boosted by her Eras tour, Swift was named the most-streamed female artist in the history of Spotify and Apple Music.

How much Money is Taylor Swift Worth?

According to the business publication Bloomberg, Taylor Swift is a billionaire with an estimated net worth to be $1.1bn (£907m). In fact, you’ll be shocked to know that only three other musicians have achieved billionaire status, which includes Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z.

However, Taylor is the first to reach the milestone solely based on her music, as her competitor’s fortunes add business ventures in fashion, beauty products, and hi-fi equipment.

On social media platforms, fans are insanely sending love to Taylor Swift's Time Magzine, one fan expressing, "THIS is why I love her, is named person of the year (and lots of other big things) and her response is to joke about her cat. She's just remained so humble and down to earth, it's incredible."

Yes, on social media, Swift celebrated her latest award by turning the spotlight on her beloved cat, Benjamin - who appeared draped around her shoulders on Time Magazine's cover.

Currently Swift is on a short break before launching the Asian and Australian legs of her Eras tour in February. The tour comes to Europe in May, and Swift is also expected to release a re-recorded version of her Reputation album in the new year.

Taylor’s decision to re-make all of her first six albums came after her old record label, Big Machine, sold her master tapes to music mogul Scooter Braun in 2019.

While she was speaking to Time, she said she had initially recoiled at the idea, which had been recommended by both her father and fellow pop star Kelly Clarkson. She continued, "I'd look at them and go, 'How can I possibly do that?' Nobody wants to do their homework again if, on the way to school, the wind blows your book report away."

Now it will be interesting to see how Taylor will continue her music career after being named the Person of the Year by Time. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q. How many times has Taylor Swift been Person of the Year?

Taylor Swift is the first woman to appear twice on a Person of the Year cover since Time began the honors in 1927. 

Q. At what age did Taylor Swift get famous?

Taylor first became famous in 2004 at the age of 14 when she signed a music publishing deal with Sony/ATV, thereby becoming the youngest signing in the company's history. Later in 2006 Swift signed with Big Machine Records and scored her first Top 40 hit with “Tim McGraw.”

Q. How much money is Taylor Swift worth?

The success of the Taylor’s Eras tour, the event spanning multiple 

cities that have broken many records, sparked ticket frenzies and even caused the equivalent of a small earthquake, has propelled her net worth past $1 billion, according to a Bloomberg News analysis.

Q. What song made Taylor Swift famous?

In 2008 the song ‘Love Story’ made Taylor Swift famous. This song captivated  

audiences of all ages with its capturing narrative of a contemporary Romeo and Juliet. Even today because of its catchy chorus and sentimental lyrics the song, the audience enjoys listening to this song. 

Q. Did Taylor Swift go to college?

While Taylor Swift is one of the most successful and famous singers in the world, she has never attended college. Swift started her music career at a very young age and has been touring and recording ever since. She was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1989.

Q. Why is Taylor Swift Time Magazine Person of the Year?

Time Magzine named Taylor Swift the Person of the Year in 2023 because of her record-breaking success, cultural influence, creative evolution, and for inspiring millions of people. The 33-year-old superstar spent the year traveling the world on her “Eras Tour” showcasing music from her entire career, breaking records for ticket sales, and boosting the economies of every city she visited. 

Q. How did the Eras tour boost the US economy?

According to a Washington Post, Swift’s fans spent about $93 million per show, yes which includes tickets, but also other things such as merchandise, travel, hotels, food, and outfits. By adding all of it, and by the end of the US tour, it’s estimated $5.7 billion boost to the country's economy.

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