In a recent accolade, Time magazine celebrated Taylor Swift as the Person of the Year, making her the first artist to receive the award for artistic achievements.

Initiated in 1927, the Person of the Year is Time magazine’s annual award that honors individuals, groups, or organizations that have had a significant impact in the past year, encompassing both positive and negative influences. Over nearly a century, politicians, social activists, philanthropists, and business leaders have received this award for their profound impact on the world.

However, this year, Taylor Swift is honored as the first recipient of the award based on her artistic endeavors. How does an entertainer manage to wield such a persuasive influence across various domains to receive this prestigious recognition?

Enduring Hot Streak
Few artists have exhibited more dedication than Taylor Swift in the past year. She released two re-recorded albums, “Speak Now” and “1989,” after losing the rights, including some previously unreleased tracks. She also launched The Eras Tour, which has seen around 60 performances to date. To cap off the year, she released a concert movie highlighting The Eras Tour, which recently left theaters.

With each artistic venture over the past year, Taylor Swift has achieved remarkable success. Both “Speak Now” and “1989,” despite being re-recorded albums, secured the top position on the Billboard 200 chart and have remained in the top 10 since their release. Additionally, her previous albums like “Midnights,” “folklore,” and “Lover” have maintained consistent popularity, making her one of the leading album-selling artists in the current market.

Taylor Swift has been exceptionally active and achieved great success in the past year.

In the realm of singles on the Billboard Hot 100, Taylor Swift pocketed a number one hit with “Cruel Summer.” Despite not being heavily promoted, this track, which wasn’t even chosen as a single from the “Lover” album released over four years ago, became the standout sleeper hit of the past year.

The allure of “Cruel Summer” was largely amplified by The Eras Tour, where Taylor Swift continuously set unprecedented records. According to Pollstar, The Eras Tour has officially surpassed $1 billion in revenue, becoming the most successful tour of all time. By Pollstar’s estimates, after the tour concludes entirely, it could gross over $2 billion, far surpassing the second-place holder, Elton John, and setting a record that’s incredibly challenging to break.

Even the concert movie for The Eras Tour set new records in its genre. Since its debut, the film has shattered the opening day revenue record at AMC theaters, North America’s leading cinema chain, previously held by “Spiderman: No Way Home.” Despite limited ticket availability and showings, The Eras Tour movie easily surpassed the revenue record for concert movies, reaching $249 million USD, a record recognized by Guinness.

Achievements Beyond Artistic Borders
With outstanding achievements in the past year, Taylor Swift’s net worth has reached $1 billion, making her the first artist to become a billionaire solely through artistic endeavors. Prior to Taylor Swift, another music billionaire was Rihanna, but the majority of her earnings came from the renowned Fenty Beauty cosmetics brand, and she hasn’t released a new album in over five years.

The recognition of Taylor Swift as Time magazine’s Person of the Year is surprising but well-deserved.

Taylor Swift’s impact, unparalleled in its magnitude, has been celebrated by high-ranking officials. Mayor Jerry Weiers of Glendale renamed his city to “Swift City” for two days to welcome the first night of The Eras Tour. The city government of Rio de Janeiro approved an event to welcome the tour by dressing up the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. Moreover, during a performance in Seattle, USA, Taylor Swift fans collectively danced, creating seismic vibrations equivalent to a 2.3 Richter scale earthquake. Previously in the US, no group had generated seismic vibrations of this magnitude.

Time magazine’s exclusive recognition of Taylor Swift as the Person of the Year may be surprising when looking at the list of past winners. However, considering her exceptional achievements that transcend the realms of art and entertainment, this honor is entirely justified.