When you remember 2023, what's going to stick out to you? What music soundtracked whatever personal shit you went through? What memes and TikTok trends will you one day try to explain to your grandchildren?
Everyone's answers will be (same, same but) different; however, there are some universal truths about dominant forces of pop culture this year. The biggest is undeniably Taylor Swift — and while it pains me to quote my colleague Alex Hudson once again, he said it best when he pointed out in his Eras Tour film review that the pop star was certainly a contender for World's Most Famous Musician in 2022, but now there's no contest.
Apple Music noticed too, and the streaming service has bravely decidedly to name Swift as its Artist of the Year for 2023. According to its statistics, she's the No. 1 most-streamed woman in Apple Music history, as well as the woman with the most songs to reach Apple Music's Global Daily Top 100.
"I am so honoured to be Apple Music's Artist of the Year," Swift shared in a statement. "Thank you to every single one of you for making this year the most incredible, joyful, celebratory year ever. From streaming the music nonstop to screaming it together in real life at the shows, dancing chaotically in movie theatres, none of this would have been possible without you. Thank you so much."
This is Swift's first time receiving the honour, which is currently in its fifth year. Previous Apple Music Artist of the Year honourees include Billie Eilish (2019), Lil Baby (2020), the Weekend (2021) and Bad Bunny (2022).
It's interesting to note that it's not since last year's sort-of forgettable Midnights that the pop star has released a technically new album. However, 2023 has brought with it two instalments in her re-recording project, Speak Now (Taylor's Version) and 1989 (Taylor's Version), the latter seeing Swift's biggest release-week numbers ever. Much to Jack Antonoff's delight, "Cruel Summer" from 2019's Lover hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 two weeks ago, only to be displaced by 1989 vault track "Is It Over Now?" this week.
It was, of course, the synergistic Eras Tour that brought her to dominate the year, bolstered by a return-to-form of media frenzy surrounding the artist's relationships after she and long-term boyfriend Joe Alwyn broke up this spring — from the dirtbag rebound to the Friday Night Lights America's-sweethearts pairing of ketchup and seemingly ranch.
Since the Canadian Eras Tour dates in Toronto and Vancouver are scheduled for over a year from now and pending Taylor's Versions of her self-titled debut and reputation are still to come, it's exceedingly possible that Swift's reign could continue into 2024.
Everyone's answers will be (same, same but) different; however, there are some universal truths about dominant forces of pop culture this year. The biggest is undeniably Taylor Swift — and while it pains me to quote my colleague Alex Hudson once again, he said it best when he pointed out in his Eras Tour film review that the pop star was certainly a contender for World's Most Famous Musician in 2022, but now there's no contest.
Apple Music noticed too, and the streaming service has bravely decidedly to name Swift as its Artist of the Year for 2023. According to its statistics, she's the No. 1 most-streamed woman in Apple Music history, as well as the woman with the most songs to reach Apple Music's Global Daily Top 100.
"I am so honoured to be Apple Music's Artist of the Year," Swift shared in a statement. "Thank you to every single one of you for making this year the most incredible, joyful, celebratory year ever. From streaming the music nonstop to screaming it together in real life at the shows, dancing chaotically in movie theatres, none of this would have been possible without you. Thank you so much."
This is Swift's first time receiving the honour, which is currently in its fifth year. Previous Apple Music Artist of the Year honourees include Billie Eilish (2019), Lil Baby (2020), the Weekend (2021) and Bad Bunny (2022).
It's interesting to note that it's not since last year's sort-of forgettable Midnights that the pop star has released a technically new album. However, 2023 has brought with it two instalments in her re-recording project, Speak Now (Taylor's Version) and 1989 (Taylor's Version), the latter seeing Swift's biggest release-week numbers ever. Much to Jack Antonoff's delight, "Cruel Summer" from 2019's Lover hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 two weeks ago, only to be displaced by 1989 vault track "Is It Over Now?" this week.
It was, of course, the synergistic Eras Tour that brought her to dominate the year, bolstered by a return-to-form of media frenzy surrounding the artist's relationships after she and long-term boyfriend Joe Alwyn broke up this spring — from the dirtbag rebound to the Friday Night Lights America's-sweethearts pairing of ketchup and seemingly ranch.
Since the Canadian Eras Tour dates in Toronto and Vancouver are scheduled for over a year from now and pending Taylor's Versions of her self-titled debut and reputation are still to come, it's exceedingly possible that Swift's reign could continue into 2024.
