Taylor Swift outshines world leaders to claim 'Time' Magazine's Person of the Year
The popular singer clinched this year's selection by the esteemed American weekly. The competition she faced was, in fact, remarkably intense.
3:33 AM EST, December 7, 2023
'Time' magazine annually announces its Person of the Year on its cover. It's not necessarily an honor, but more so an indication of which topics have been dominating the media's attention recently. Last year, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, was named ‘Person of the Year.’ Previous recipients have included noteworthy figures such as Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin.
This year, the prestigious title was bestowed upon the 33-year-old American singer, Taylor Swift. Other nominees spanned a wide range, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chairman of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, Trump’s prosecutors, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and even the iconic Barbie doll.
The pop star's tremendous achievement is primarily rooted in her highly successful tour, which drew over $2 billion in merchandise sales alone, surpassing previous record holder - Madonna.
A documentary film, 'Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,' was also made during her concerts. Swift took the initiative to distribute the film independently to theaters, and even reached international screens, including those in Poland. The presale alone generated over $100 million worldwide.
Financial analysts estimate that Swift's income from her ventures in 2023 could reach a staggering $4 billion. 'Time' magazine highlights this formidable prediction to justify its choice: "As a pop star, she is in league with icons like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and Madonna; as a songwriter, her talents draw comparisons to Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, and Joni Mitchell. As a businesswoman, she has constructed an empire potentially worth over a billion dollars. And as a public figure, her persona is scrutinized, influencing everything from her romantic involvement to her fashion choices - she has long drawn attention and exhibits skillful handling of it."
In response to the accolade, Swift expressed her feelings:"I've never felt prouder or happier, not to mention more creatively fulfilled and liberated."
