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Many artists are using their personal brand and influence to educate artists, from beginners to fellow professionals. Timbaland has partnered with Masterclass to teach musicians how to make unique...
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December 7, 2022
Rina Sawayama has burst into the consciousness of queer music listeners in recent years. My first time listening to her work was Cherry, a track that is bubbly ...
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October 4, 2022
In the wake of Tiktok’s rapid expansion and growing dominance in the short-form video market, YouTube has felt the pressure to adapt to keep up with the shifting demands of its audience...
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October 5, 2022
Conan Gray is an American YouTuber turned singer-songwriter, most well-known for his songs about heartbreak and unrequited love. Throughout his career, Conan has written songs like “Crush Culture”...
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October 17, 2022
Phoebe Bridgers is an American songwriter, singer, and producer who has, in recent years, gained mainstream recognition with the release of her sophomore album “Punisher” in 2020...
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Steve Lacy is a singer, songwriter, record producer, and living proof that you don’t need the most advanced or high-tech studio equipment to create music that listeners will love...
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August 31, 2022
For the last two years, there has been something missing in the lives of music lovers around the world—live music. The advent of a global pandemic meant the absence of concerts, festivals........
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August 19, 2022
One of the biggest questions many spaces face today is how blockchain technology may overhaul industry norms, and the music industry is no exception. In particular...
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August 19, 2022
Snapchat has recently announced Snapchat Sounds Creator Fund, a monthly grant program of up to $100,000 awarded to independent artists distributing music on the platform...
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August 15, 2022
Over the past few years, TikTok’s popularity has significantly increased resulting in 1 billion global daily users by early 2022. The app has also become extremely influential in the current music....
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August 4, 2022
Charlie Puth has paired with Studio to create a 30-day online course that outlines the entire songwriting and production process for $279 USD. This hands-on learning experience has been marketed....
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August 2, 2022
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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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