The Business of Taylor Swift
The Brian Lehrer Show
WNYC
4.6 • 1.5K Ratings
🗓️ 13 July 2023
⏱️ 17 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
As Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” comes to a close in the U.S., it is on track to amass $1 billion in sales which would make it the highest-grossing tour ever. Charlie Harding, music journalist and co-host of the Switched On Pop podcast, breaks down the popularity of Swift's music and how the artist is shaping the industry.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | No way or say a single vow You need to hear me out |
| 0:05.0 | And I said speak now |
| 0:08.0 | No, that's not the Brain Layer Show theme song that speak now |
| 0:12.0 | From the eponymous Taylor Swift album, which was re-release this week |
| 0:17.0 | Why are we talking about Taylor Swift? |
| 0:19.0 | As her ears tour comes to a close, at least here in the U.S |
| 0:23.0 | It is on track to amass a billion dollars in sales |
| 0:27.0 | It would make it the highest grossing tour ever |
| 0:30.0 | Elton John currently stands to lose holding that record |
| 0:33.0 | But here's there's more |
| 0:35.0 | Back in 1964, the Beatles famously held the record for the most songs in Billboard's Hot 100 |
| 0:43.0 | at any one time when they claimed the top five list |
| 0:47.0 | Last November Swift doubled that record |
| 0:50.0 | She locked down the entire top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100 with songs from her album Midnights |
| 0:55.0 | And she recently beat out Beyoncé as the highest-earning female musician ever |
| 1:01.0 | Bigger than Elton John, bigger than the Beatles, bigger than the Queen Bee, whether you're a fan or not |
| 1:06.0 | She's come to dominate the music industry and her success could say something about the future of it |
| 1:12.0 | And how artists make money or sometimes don't |
| 1:15.0 | Joining us now, not just on the historic popularity of Swift's music but how she's shaping the industry |
| 1:21.0 | is Charlie Harding, music journalist and co-host of the Switched On Pop podcast |
| 1:27.0 | That's the Vulture podcast about the making and meaning of popular music |
| 1:31.0 | Charlie, thanks for coming on. Welcome to W and YC |
... |
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