Taylor Swift’s success: Owning her music and re-recording old albums

Taylor Swift has rewritten the rules of pop stardom, and now her financial story holds as much intrigue as her chart-topping music. Not long ago, whispers of her billion-dollar empire have become reality, leaving fans and financiers alike wondering – just how did she do it? In October 23, following the immensely successful Era’s Tour, Taylor Swift crossed the billionaire threshold, as reported by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The publication has since conducted a comprehensive analysis, unveiling the details of Swift’s wealth and identifying her primary sources of income.

Taylor Swift performs at the Monumental stadium during her Eras Tour concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)(AP)

Decoding Taylor Swift’s income source

Unlike other artists who expand their income through various business ventures, Taylor Swift opted for a different approach by making music her primary business. According to Bloomberg’s in-depth analysis, “Swift has made her fortune almost exclusively from her music. She has really come out openly about the importance of controlling your music and owning your music as an artist.”

So, where exactly does her wealth come from?

The publication attributes much of her success to music streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. According to their research, her total income solely from streaming is $175 million.

Taylor Swift’s smart business choices which made her a Billionaire

Usually, singers don’t own the main copies of their songs, but they get paid a share of the money when people listen to their music. The term ‘royalities exist to describe this process. While the songwriters get a part of it.

What Taylor Swift did that was really smart is she decided to re-record her old albums. By doing this, she now owns the main copies of her songs. It means she has more control over her music. In addition to that, she renegotiated with Spotify to get a better deal for her music. She took her songs off the platform before because she felt they weren’t getting enough attention there.

By promoting physical album sales, engaging directly with fans, and staying active on social media, she earned a whopping $125 million over the years from record sales as per the estimate.

Her $1.6 billion concert bonanza and $400 million song riches are only the beginning. From Nashville havens to L.A. estates and beyond, her real estate collection hums with the sweet melody of success. The estimated total value of her properties is around 110 million. Taylor Swift stands out as “one of the rare entertainers” to attain billionaire status primarily through her music and performances.