In public relations, only some artists are as adept at crafting a compelling narrative as Taylor Swift. With her resolute mission to reclaim ownership of her musical legacy after a tumultuous split from music manager Scooter Braun, the excitement surrounding her latest rereleases is undeniably nostalgic. As Taylor Swift continues her musical legacy, she reshapes the landscape of the music industry, engaging her fans in a way that transcends the digital age. Most would say Taylor Swift has a fantastic PR team.
One of the ways Swift is known for her impressive PR is the way she controls her fans. Swift’s fanbase is undeniably one of the most powerful yet intimidating groups of people. Their dynamic is all thanks to Swift’s interactions and the special attention she gives them. On an album release day, as soon as the clock strikes midnight, Swifties listen together from all over. Through the nostalgic energy of her re-releases, Swifties enjoy hosting physical and remote listening parties leading up to the moment of the release. On top of that, Swift herself hosts “secret sessions,” which are private listening parties for hand-selected fans. This strategic move wins the hearts of fans from across the world.
A huge PR-grossing event was the Eras Tour. At her shows, Swift performs songs from all of her albums or “eras.” Each show gets two surprise songs, meaning she carefully selects two songs not from the set list to perform for every single show, therefore making the songs special to each tour location. An essential aspect of Swift’s Eras Tour is the friendship bracelets that fans create with popular song lyrics, titles, sayings, and inside jokes. Fans get to know each other at the show and trade friendship bracelets. This trend skyrocketed throughout the Eras Tour, with celebrities and influencers also taking part. These bracelets have become a key feature of Swift’s concert attendance.
Also during the tour, Swift gave back to her hardworking crew through bonuses totaling over $55 million. This was distributed to all members working on her show, from dancers and sound technicians to caterers and truck drivers. In addition to these checks, Swift wrote several handwritten notes to show her appreciation to staff. This gesture of appreciation reiterates why Swift’s fans are loyal and appreciative of her music and influence, as she gives back to those who support her.
Swift takes over many aspects of the media. Recently, she has taken over the NFL media, particularly around the Kansas City Chiefs. Her new relationship with Travis Kelce has been at the forefront of everyone’s minds, and media coverage about their relationship is coming out daily. Swift and Kelce have turned an even bigger eye toward the NFL, with Swifties now becoming NFL football fans. An article written by Today highlighted how the Chiefs had been 4-0, with Swift attending four out of the previous five games. Every time Swift is in attendance, Kelce seems to play extraordinarily well. Kelce has even joked that Swift is his good luck charm.
This has started a new type of fandom within the NFL. The hot, new relationship has taken over the media and brought different audiences to the NFL and Taylor Swift.
Although Taylor Swift being a PR queen is not new news, in the past year, she has managed to grow her fanbase by an impressive amount. Swift manages to create a more personal aspect to her concerts and how she interacts with her fans. Swift is an important person to note as a dominator of the PR world. She continues to make strategic moves, engage with fans in a unique way, control her own narrative, and promote her work effectively.