Taylor Swift and Playboi Carti are two sides of the same coin, both trying to maintain fan support as they explore new styles
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he release of the long anticipated album, “Reputation,” One of the most prevalent examples of this complex dynamwas dropped on November 10, 2017 and Taylor Swift ic is the artist Kanye West. West is known for his controverwatched her streaming numbers fall at rapid rates. Her sial, often disruptive statements. Paly junior Mathew Signo“Reputation” album, one of her most stylistically diverse al- rello-Katz, has been a listener of West for a few years, but bums, faced escalated criticism. has recently questioned being part of the fanbase because of This was a revolutionary drop because it strayed from the West’s political outbursts. norm that an artist’s primary goal should be to please their fans; “I was remarkably disappointed to see Kanye’s attemptinstead it offered a personalized, in-depth look into the explo- ed close allyship with former president Donald Trump,” Siration of a new genre. Sophomore gnorello-Katz said. “As someone Bella Daly was initially confused who supports the Democratic by the dramatic discrepancies in Party, I began to rapidly distance styles. myelf from Kanye. Supporting an “Initially, I wasn’t in love with artist with such controversial opin“Reputation” because it was so difions made me question whether ferent from everything she had put or not being a part of this fanbase out before. I remember listening was in my best interest.” to ‘What You Made Me Do’ and In the modern day world of being so confused about it,” Daly music, performers often act in the Sophia Krugler, senior best interest of their fans because said. “But the more I listened to it, the more it grew on me.” artists are bound by their need to Senior Sophia Krugler has been a huge Taylor Swift fan since make a living and they rely totally on their fanbase to do that. 4th grade and initially loved “Reputation,” continuing to sup- This often results in the self-censorship of port Swift throughout her genre switching journey. artists on controversial topics and con“I’m glad she took a risk with “Reputation” because it gave stantly monitoring and being cauher the opportunity to continue changing styles and have more tious off posts made on social freedom as an artist,” Krugler said. “[Taylor Swift] pretty much media. said, ‘I don’t care what you think,’ which I love.” As well as limited freedom Although Krugler believes “Reputation” was one of the most of speech, artists are limited daring albums, she continues to support Swift, regardless of the with freedom of expresgenres Swift decided to release. sion. In some cases, artists People naturally support artists as fans, but this support is of- release albums which they ten constructed off of more than just musical talent. Especially work extremely hard on, recently, musician’s personal lives have been playing a bigger only to be faced with backrole in the strength of their fanbase. lash of fans.
“I’m glad she took a risk with “Reputation” because it gave her the opportunity to continue changing styles and have more freedom as an artist.”
