I would suggest studying any really good songwriter, regardless of genre is worthwhile. From Gibert & Sullivan to Irving Berlin, Dylan, the Beatles, Hank Sr., Willie Nelson, Sting, Marvin Gaye, Lionel Ritchie, Carol King, Eagles, CSN, Neil Young, Jackson Brown, Jewel, Alanis Morissette, Dave Matthews, John Mayer and on an on.

Right now I'm listening to India Arie and she's a terrific writer. BTW, I mostly write country, but listen to a lot of hip hop, current R&B and rock too. And yes, I listen to Taylor Swift and I think I can learn from anybody that is connecting with millions of fans around the world, many way outside her genre.

A very successful Nashville publisher once told me, after a million in sales on a "country" album, everything else is by definition crossover (i.e., non-country buyer). So what Taylor is doing is valued, hell loved, by folks other than country music lovers.

I dare say, if Taylor Swift had come out 10 years ago, she'd be selling albums on the scale of Shania Twain (probably 10 million on each of her first two albums).

Any way--that's my take.