Taylor Swift: Time names her Person of the Year

Since 1927, “Time” magazine has awarded the title “Person of the Year” every year: “Person of the Year” is chosen as the person who, in the editorial opinion, has significantly changed or moved the world in the respective year. In recent years, Ukrainian President Zelenskyj (2022), tech entrepreneur Elon Musk (2021) and US President Joe Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris (2020) have had the honor of wearing this title.

Taylor Swift is “Person of the Year 2023”

This year, “Time” has chosen a musician who currently seems to be at the absolute peak of her career: Taylor Swift is the Person of the Year 2023, as the magazine officially announced on Wednesday with the mega star.

In the accompanying “Time” article, the author names her as a pop star in the same breath as Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Madonna. As a songwriter with Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell. In addition, as a businesswoman, Swift has “built an empire that, according to some estimates, is worth over $1 billion.” Taylor herself says in the interview that now, at the age of 33, it feels like the breakthrough of her career. “And for the first time in my life, I was mentally strong enough to handle what came with it.”

The reason given is that she has become “the main person in the world” this year. Her Eras Tour is expected to be the biggest tour of all time and the first to gross more than a billion dollars. The “Taylor effect” cannot be overlooked: her concerts caused a “small economic boom” in the cities she visited, as concertgoers stormed hotels and restaurants.

The Evidence for the “Taylor Effect”

As further evidence of the effect that the singer has on society, the author cites that, for example, a small line in one of her songs made friendship bracelets a popular accessory and sales in craft stores increased by 500 percent. Since Taylor Swift started dating football star Travis Kelce, the number of spectators at his team’s Kansas City Chiefs games has increased massively. With the new release of her old albums, she is also breaking chart records that she previously set herself.

In an interview with “Time” magazine, she also talks openly about her current relationship: “It all started when Travis teased me in a very endearing way on his podcast, which I thought was damn cool,” she says. After that they started spending time together. “So we had a lot of time where no one knew anything, which I’m very grateful for because it allowed us to get to know each other. When I went to that first game, we were already a couple.” She has nothing to hide. “We’re just proud of each other.”