March 28, 2023
The Latin GRAMMY Awards are changing it up this year for songwriters! On March 21, 2023, The Latin Recording Academy released a press release announcing various additions and changes to the awards...
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March 22, 2023
Even if you haven't heard of NewJeans yet, there's a good chance you'll soon be humming along to their infectious tunes. The Korean pop group is quickly gaining international attention and breaking..
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March 31, 2023
Even if you don’t know who Max Martin is, you’ve definitely heard his songs. Hit-pop songs are kind of his thing after all. Martin first stepped into the music world in 1985 as a frontman for....
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March 18, 2023
The Filipino-Canadian duo from Vancouver has been releasing new tracks left and right, and they are known for their most streamed songs on Spotify, “Timezones,” and “Silver Skies.” Previously .......
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March 17, 2023
The singer, songwriter, and actress Miley Cyrus has recently released a record-breaking song called “Flowers” in January 2023. This song recites her 10-year long relationship with her ex-husband....
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March 4, 2023
Men I Trust is a Canadian indie pop band known for their dreamy and mellow sound. Their music is laid back, incorporating elements of funk, disco, and R&B to create a smooth and groovy vibe that is
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March 3, 2023
Artists like Kaytranada have proved that you don’t need access to a professional recording studio to create well-produced music. As technology and social media have advanced, it is now easier than eve
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February 25, 2023
People draw inspiration from others when forming their ideas, it’s a fact of life. Sampling in music is no exception - and artists do it for a variety of reasons. Traditionally, copyright laws and
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February 23, 2023
Tobias Jesso Jr. You may know his name from his 2015 solo album Goon. Or maybe from his work on various popular songs, such as “When We Were Young” by Adele and “Alive” by Sia. Or even from his rece
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February 23, 2023
HBO’s The Last of Us is arguably the hottest show out right now, receiving near universal acclaim from viewers and critics alike. This holds especially true for episode three: “Long, Long Time”.
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February 21, 2023
Folk singer. Songwriter. Canadian. Polyglot. All of these titles belong to Gina Lam, also known by her stage name Ginalina. In November 2022, she released her latest album titled Going Back: Remembe
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February 21, 2023
Rihanna is an illustrious artist. She is among the best selling female artists of all time, and was one of the greatest hitmakers of the 2000s and 2010s. She has since grown to become the richest...
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How Her Protest or Silence Could Influence Music in 2025
Taylor Swift deleted her entire repertoire off Spotify in 2014, arguing that the site did not pay musicians fairly. Despite initial criticism as a publicity trick, the action drew international attention. Daniel Ek, Spotify's CEO, even addressed her directly, appealing with her to reconsider.
The question remains: what would happen if Taylor Swift tried it again? Ten years later, artists are disputing streaming payments yet again.
Spotify listened to Taylor's words
Even back then, Swift's cultural and commercial impact was greater than that of other artists who withdrew their music, including Prince, King Crimson, Neil Young, Jay-Z, and others.
2014 saw Swift's transfer and the release of 1989, which had the biggest debut of the decade with 1.28 million copies sold in its first week. There were shockwaves because she didn't need Spotify.
And it wasn't just symbolic. Swift then famously took on Apple Music, criticizing the company's decision to not compensate musicians during the three-month free trial period for customers. After receiving her open letter, Apple changed its mind within 24 hours. That was leverage in action, not just star power.
Why, then, did it not alter the industry?
Spotify's payout model remained the same in spite of the artist support and media hysteria. Her protest was not followed by other well-known artists. Finally, in 2017, just as Taylor was getting ready to release Reputation, her music was added back to Spotify.
She didn't make the move for artists in general, according to critics and Reddit users. In the words of one user:
"Yes, she did, but like the majority of her overt political actions, she did it because it impacted her, not because it would benefit others."
However, the outcome was significant even if self-interest was the driving force. It made a difference. It garnered media attention. A trillion-dollar company was sweating over it.
What if she did it today, again?
The Power Shift, Spotify, and Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is a power in the economy in 2025 in addition to being an artist.
Economists estimate she increased U.S. cities' revenue by more over $5 billion, and her Eras Tour brought in $1.4 billion (Pollstar).
In the meantime, Spotify is being criticized once more:
But this time, Taylor wouldn’t be alone.
In 2014, her boycott barely shook Spotify.
Today, with Gen Z favoring TikTok, YouTube, and Bandcamp (MIDiA, 2023), and the EU investigating Spotify's artist treatment, the tide is turning.
If Swift took a stand now, especially backing smaller artists; it could actually change things.
Will she do it?
Difficult to say. She is strategic, and Spotify still provides reach. However, after regaining her master's degree and speaking out on industry difficulties, another daring step would be in character.
Final Take
We don't need a hero. But, a catalyst? That alters everything.
If Taylor unplugged Spotify in 2025, the entire music industry would feel it.
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