10 Business Lessons You Can Learn From Taylor Swift’s Success

Whether you’ve been a fan of Taylor Swift for years or just recently became a Swiftie, few artists are performing at her level.

Even those who aren’t fans of Swift’s music can't deny her business-savvy approach to the industry.

If you want to build wealth and become a success, here are some lessons you can borrow from the pop star to use in your own professional life.

One of Taylor Swift’s boldest professional ventures has been to re-record her original six albums.

Swift decided to revisit her old songs because she knew she would own the copyright on the re-recordings. That was not the case with the original recordings.

Swift’s determination to own her work offers an important lesson: Owning your work or product gives it integrity and authenticity and allows you to boost your bank account by collecting all the residuals and profits for yourself.

Swift is one of the most popular artists today. She was the most streamed artist on Spotify in 2023. Her newest album, released on April 19, even became the most-streamed album on Spotify in a single week.

However, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Swift. In 2016, Kim Kardashian released a video where she accused Swift of lying about agreeing to a lyric in one of Kanye West’s songs. Swift was subjected to immense public vitriol afterward.

While the artist has opened up about the negative impact the situation had on her, she didn’t crumble. Instead, she came out with her 2017 record “Reputation,” a comeback album focused on retribution.

We can all take inspiration from this response, remembering to use our setbacks as motivation to grow instead of letting negative events take us down.

Swift has dabbled in a variety of musical genres. Although she’s mostly recognized as a pop star, Swift’s first album was a country record, and some of her recent albums dip into the alternative genre.

Swift has marketed these as her “eras” — hence the name of her widely successful Eras Tour. While her music certainly has a connective thread, it crosses and bends multiple styles and genres.

The lesson here is that we should never be afraid to shake things up creatively and in business.

Similarly, Swift has never restricted herself to just producing music. Aside from writing and singing, she’s also acted in several movies and TV shows and dipped her toe into directing.

Even if you excel at one particular area of business, it’s never a bad idea to step outside of your comfort zone and try new projects. Swift offers the perfect example that taking risks can lead to major rewards.

Diehard Swift fans are known as “Swifties.” Swift has forged a strong connection with her fan base, which is one of the reasons they’re so loyal.

Swift’s internet presence has always been personable, from sharing videos of her cats to offering in-depth, personal messages to fans about her newest albums.

We might not be able to connect with our clients or customers on Swift’s level. However, we can still build strong relationships with customers, clients, and co-workers that will help boost our odds of business success.

Swift consistently tries to reach new listeners by collaborating with a diverse range of artists.

For example, the pop star collaborated with rapper Kendrick Lamar on a remix of the song “Bad Blood” and attracted a whole new audience. She has also collaborated with Fall Out Boy, Hayley Williams, and others.

Take a note from Swift, and don’t be afraid to connect with people outside your circle when attempting to expand your customer base.

No matter what industry you operate in, creating a recognizable brand image is paramount if you want to stand out from the competition.

Swift is an excellent example of this. From sharing her life with her cats to wearing her signature red lipstick, Swift has built a powerful brand.

Swift has always excelled at marketing herself, whether through heartfelt album releases or merchandise.

There’s no shortage of Swift merchandise. This ranges from basic items such as sweaters and T-shirts to unique items such as nightlights and keyholders.

Like Swift, be creative in how you market yourself, not shying away from a “more is more” approach.

Another major reason fans are so drawn to Swift is how frequently she releases music and content for her fans. In 2023 alone, Swift released several albums and the “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” concert film. Just half a year later, she released a brand new album.

Her re-recorded albums also feature several previously unreleased songs, plus extended versions of fan favorites. Swift reminds us that it is possible to deliver both quantity and quality.

Through ups and downs, Swift has always maintained a close-knit and fiercely supportive group of friends, including Blake Lively, Jack Antonoff, and Selena Gomez.

Having a supportive group of people around you — both in your personal life and in business — is crucial. They help you through difficult times and uplift you during successes.

They also create a strong network that can lead to various collaborations and opportunities down the road.

Taylor Swift is one of the most popular pop stars and musicians of our time, but she’s also a prominent businesswoman.

Whether you’re a diehard Swiftie, a casual listener, or even a Swift skeptic, her success is undeniable. 

The lessons from her business life can serve as motivation to all of us who dream of ways to get ahead financially.