Barry,

Some of my information comes FROM her management team. First of all, she does listen to everyone. Actually VERY CLOSELY. But she makes all the final decisions. Secondly it is her connection TO THE PEOPLE that brought her here is amazing. To hear Liz Rose talk about the gifts and personal calls she has gotten from Taylor on her success with the song "Girl Crush' is really cool. And her ongoing support of her Mother through the breast cancer situation is amazing.

Again, if I were her manager, I would listen to HER. She is the one who has the proven track record. And she is the one closer to her target audience both in age and mentality than I would be.

There is always the chance she could run off the rails. Actors take bad movie roles. Artists cut things that are not great. But if they have a really good base, they can usually recover from missteps. Ever heard of Robert Downey Jr? From train wreck to the highest paid actor in the world is a pretty interesting career path.

I feel that way about Taylor. And I just don't see it as that negative a career move. As I said, the video here is no different than the big movies out there. In fact all it does is emulate the big budget Hollywood blockbuster movie trailer. Put it next to the trailer for the AVENGERS, JURASSIC WORLD and the upcoming STAR WARS movie. Because that is what it is. It is really more of a PARODY of those big budget movies.

And that is another thing people need to remember about Taylor. She views things with a great deal of HUMOR. I think this is intended a little more tongue in cheek than we are viewing it. I don't think it is meant to be seen as seriously as some people are viewing it. I doubt very much you are going to see her walking down the street in one of those outfits in the video. She will be back to t-shirts and jeans before you know it.

You can't look at anything that she does in an isolated viewpoint.There are always OTHER things she is doing, that they are a part of. This is really part of several things.

A move to New York to present a more cosmopolitan presence. (If you can make it there....you make it anywhere...)

A move to more Hollywood roles and a way to move beyond teen idol.

A bit of a showcase of acting chops.

An appeal to her main fan base who go for all these movies.

A subtle change in her musical styling. Most people here would tell you she has ALWAYS BEEN POP.

An overseas marketing move. They are huge on Hollywood spectacle.
I would expect a HUGE overseas tour and public presence.
Wait till you see her on the red carpet at the Caan film festival, Venice and all that stuff as well as moving into the Hollywood film community that already love her.

So I think that is what is happening. I don't believe it is isolated and I don't think it is wrong at all. But above all, until she falls apart, I would go with the smartest one in the room.

To me, that is her.

MAB