Barry, there is always a chance you could be right and I could be very wrong. I'll always give people that. We have to see. But while I always seem to come on here as the "Nashville public defender" or defending Taylor Swift, or today's music, I am really not. I am not involved with all of that, just trying to present a little different opinions. And that is what they are. Opinions.
But my opinions are usually based on people I know who actually work with her, have had a hand in developing her career and who have related things to me that I feel are really the truth.
Allow me to kind of outline how WE in this town have seen this develop.

She got her deal at fourteen years old at Sony. She actually had been writing songs from age 12 and had pretty much been totally dedicated to that from then. When other kids were focusing on being popular, playing and other things, she was concentrating on writing and learning what she was doing.

When she came to Nashville she was a VERY CUTE kid, just like so many, but she impressed everyone she came around. She was respectful and always listened and absorbed everything around her. She worked with a lot of people as we all do. Everyone thinks their kid is going to be huge. A lot of us,(yours truly being one) blew her off or simply dismissed it as another kid wanna be.

She got into everything by writing (and yes it was mostly her) songs that were different than all the other pre-teen things people did. They had a different view point and were well written. She had help along the way but most of it was her. She always had vision for everything she did. She always was one step ahead of everyone. From building a company around her to all the moves she and her associates made.

She connected with her fans via social networking better than anyone did and everyone PAID for her stuff when they were illegally downloading everyone else's. She became a headliner very quickly and was doing enormous business. She crossed that elusive 'CROSSOVER" market from country to pop. She was made the teen idol and expanded the demographic of the industry from 18-40 , 70% female to 12 to 65, 70% female.

She won every award from people that are VERY SLOW TO ACCEPT ANYONE, MUCH LESS YOUNG PEOPLE. And while she had her detractors (Taylor haters) she actually USED that to disarm her critics. That is songs like "SHAKE IT OFF" and "WHY YOU GOTTA BE SO MEAN"

So every roadblock that comes her way, she is able to turn it to her advantage. Usually when kid stars grow they are discared for the "next big thing" but she hasn't been. She has grown with her audience,and vice versa.

She expanded into pop, social circles, Hollywood, New York, Europe, and beyond and has become a force there WITHOUT losing what she has already built on. She strategically plans all that but her personality and WHO SHE IS keeps her centered through everything. The pressure on her from all sides would kill most people but she just keeps keeping on.

So that is why I feel she will just keep on moving. She also DIVERSIFIES as she goes so her interests exceed music alone. That is the reason for early moves into film and other entities. Her moves to licence phrases and other properties again show this.
And she continues to WRITE VERY WELL.

Now if all this seems like I'm 'gushing over Taylor' in some ways I am, but more in admiration and having to work with people who are measured by her bar. i have a lot of respect for her and all who work with her.

Do I like everything? God No. I'm not her target market. I feel a little about the video and current path like much of you. Not my cup of tea. But I do think it is well done and achieves the purpose she is going for, which is a movie role and continuing woman empowerment.

I think we can all learn something and should pay attention. That kid can teach us all old dogs a few new tricks.

MAB