Is Taylor Swift as big as peak-MJ?

[dremolus - solarpunk]

I'm choosing chaos today

[Deleted]

I don’t know. I wasn’t born during peak-MJ. I hope the majority of pulse relates tbh

[Rhythm Nation]

No. In the digital era with endless options to choose from it’s not possible for any one artist to be as big as mj is the 80s. Same with movies or tv shows etc.

[Ling-Ling]

In this day and age, I guess she's about as close as you can get. But with the segmentation of music and media in the digital/streaming age, it does not feel or look like it did back in the 80's and 90's. There was a certain level of hype and saturation back then that no artist will ever be able to achieve again.

[jenglisbe]

With a white gaze she might be, but in actuality no she is not.

[jdanton2]

i will say no but Taylor seems bigger because she releases so much music while MJ would go years between albums . also his albums had alot less songs on them . the singles charts also moved faster then so he was able to release alot more radio singles than artist do today.

[Positive Tension]

You can't really compare because the music industry/media etc. is so different now. However, my vote leans more "yes" than "no".

[chartfreak]

She's definitely like the biggest pop star in the world right now, but she's no ICON/LEGEND.

[omieethehomieee]

No. MJ had global impact among all races , all ages ,everyone loved him. He’s inspired some of the biggest artists of all time. He will remain the biggest artist of all time.

[Acid Eyes]

It's tricky to compare their impact now, as TS is currently at the peak of her career while MJ hit his peak almost 40 years ago.

Right now, there are only a handful of younger artists who were clearly inspired by Taylor (Olivia being the most prominent one). Only time will tell how far reaching her impact is on the industry.

At the moment, she's probably not as big as he was at his peak, but she is currently in a league of her own with no real challenger.

[Eloqueen™]

She's as close as anyone's ever gonna get!

[groovetheory]

Apr 21, 2024 17:46:58 GMT -5 omieethehomieee said:

No. MJ had global impact among all races , all ages ,everyone loved him. He’s inspired some of the biggest artists of all time. He will remain the biggest artist of all time.

I agree. The "global impact" is what makes the difference. I was born around his peak but I remember the early-mid 90s and everyone of every age knew about him and his songs. I live in a non-English speaking country which is predominantly muslim and people knew. Taylor is of course popular here but only among Gen Z and her popularity is nowhere near him.

For US, the case might be different of course, she might be close.

[irice22]

Apr 21, 2024 17:46:31 GMT -5 chartfreak said:

She's definitely like the biggest pop star in the world right now, but she's no ICON/LEGEND.

She is absolutely an icon and legend.

[irice22]

I went with yes

www.youtube.com/shorts/q03Y9q_Vt08

[colson]

Nope. Never.

[ificanthaveyou]

I think if she isn’t already, she will be when all is said and done. All the scandals and pedo-rumors made Michael Jackson infamous for his reputation rather than his music in the latter part of his career. And he heavily relied on his classic hits but didn’t make much of a dent with his later recordings.

With the trajectory Taylor is going right now, she will end up as the BIGGEST musician of all-time. We’re living in a time where social media and technology makes it difficult to keep an audiences attention, and musicians are a dime a dozen, but Taylor has managed to continue to outdo herself with every release.

[Hefty Hanna]

I voted no, but it’s clear that Taylor is now discussed in the circles of MJ, Madonna, The Beatles rather than her contemporaries. Other charting artists are no longer her peers.

[irice22]

Elvis
The Beatles
Michael Jackson
Taylor Swift

Sorry, I don't make the rules.

[Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ]

Apr 27, 2024 9:11:01 GMT -5 irice22 said:

Elvis
The Beatles
Michael Jackson
Taylor Swift

Sorry, I don't make the rules.

Madonna?

Basically her every single from 1983 to 2012 was a hit, especially in Europe. I remember the shock when I saw Celebration's peak in the US (#71), since it was a huge hit in Europe. Same goes for Sorry, Jump, Give It 2 Me...

[Positive Tension]

If we're talking sales, Taylor is definitely on track to sell more than Madonna within the next couple of years, so I get that ranking. I can't compare the two, but they're definitely in the same league now.

[irice22]

For me it's not a ranking, it's just the Big Four. The Mount Rushmore, if you will. If you aren't seeing this, I'd imagine you're a bit clouded by primacy bias. Taylor Swift is GINORMOUS and critically-acclaimed. Also peaking very late in her career.

Madonna is definitely huge, but I think she was stifled by Michael Jackson being the biggest star at the same time.

Again, this is all subjective and of course my opinion. But an opinion certainly based on data, cultural impact, and acclaim.

[HEADOFTHEPACK]

Pretty much an impossible comparison given the industry is so different, but I don't know that we've maybe *ever* had someone so commercially successful for such a consistent time period?

Now, that's different to longstanding cultural change and impact. To which I would say, no, not even close. Unprecedented popularity and commercial success in her time for sure, but I don't think the deep cultural impact of artists like Elvis, The Beatles, MJ, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Britney etc is there.

[Fire]

yes. time will tell whether taylor will be as influential as mj was at his peak but in terms of sheer "being big", taylor is absolutely on his level imo (tho then again peak mj was before i was born so maybe i'm the wrong person to answer this lol)

[Dylan :)]

Apr 22, 2024 20:01:30 GMT -5 Eloqueen™ said:

She's as close as anyone's ever gonna get!

This is how I feel. I'm not sure if she is as big as him as I didn't live through his main reign, however I feel this is as close as anyone has gotten since him or will get anytime soon. Taylor keeps reaching new peaks in her career every six months

[bluepoet]

Apr 24, 2024 8:56:04 GMT -5 groovetheory said:

Apr 21, 2024 17:46:58 GMT -5 omieethehomieee said:

No. MJ had global impact among all races , all ages ,everyone loved him. He’s inspired some of the biggest artists of all time. He will remain the biggest artist of all time.

I agree. The "global impact" is what makes the difference. I was born around his peak but I remember the early-mid 90s and everyone of every age knew about him and his songs. I live in a non-English speaking country which is predominantly muslim and people knew. Taylor is of course popular here but only among Gen Z and her popularity is nowhere near him.

For US, the case might be different of course, she might be close.

I mean I agree but also, 22 MILLION people officially registered for Singapore's 6 date run of The Eras Tour. That is still insane demand, and dare I say - MJ level demand. 

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

I think time is the main factor here. Everyone cites the Beatles and MJ as an influence and have for decades. I’m not sure if MJ was a universal influence on artists in the 80s (beyond influencing trends of pop music, of course). Similarly, I don’t know if many artists in the 90s cited Mariah as an influence, even though she clearly affected the trends of the era, but today, many many artists list her as someone who’s influenced them. Same with Madonna and the 80s. You’d probably be hard-pressed to find someone who cites a peer as an influence and I think many big names from the current generation are still not as removed from Taylor’s generation of artists to really name her as one. But we’ll see in the coming years over maybe the next 10 or so if the next crop of them name her among the ones who inspired them and that’ll be the sign of whether she’s on that level.
In terms of pop culture domination and success, I don’t think it’s a stretch to include her among the group with the Beatles, Elvis, MJ and Madonna. The last element is whether her impact can be felt beyond her own success.

[avamaxstan]

I voted no, but I’m starting to lean toward yes. The fact that she’s reached this global-domination peak 17 years into her career - while MJ’s peak came roughly 8-10 years into his solo career, and the Beatles entire active career was only 6 years - puts her up there with them. The drawback is that her fanbase is less diverse and less global than the other legends.

[𝐂𝐎𝐂𝐎🍁]

I don't think you expect any artist today metrics to be on the same playing field as the greatest before the streaming era. It's unfair to both to compare.

Having said that forget MJ what made Mariah a great wasn't her success and sales it was how her music stood up to the test of time and her undoubtedly talented discography and how she inspired a generation of singers to claim her as influencing her. If Taylor once past her prime is talked about with such reverence then we can debate then.

No artists in their prime really matters in these discussions you're supposed to be HUGE it's what you become after the decline that speaks volumes. Do people forget you or do does your music stand the test of time

Having said that Not Madonna, nor Mariah nor Taylor will ever, never reach Peak MJ hysteria, cultural influence and touch on all races and continents. Taylor is very much still mainly one demographic and she isn't that entertaining to be a MJ.

The closest to MJ is Beyonce period

[कामसूत्र]

No. It was at two totally different times/eras so it's not possible to really compare the two. It is also far too soon to really judge how her legacy has held up or stood up.

[balletgirlmom]

Both of them are so iconic and both will survive the expanse of time and 100 years from now, they both will be known.