Superstar singer/songwriter Taylor Swift may have to write a new song about the benefits of going political. Mic.com reported yesterday that “Taylor Swift is raking in album sales since she endorsed Democrats.”
The entertainment website said that four of the pop music star’s albums have risen in ranking on the iTunes album sales chart since she announced she was supporting Democratic candidates for governor and senator in Tennessee.
Taylor Swift sees increase in album sales after endorsing Democrats https://t.co/UitB8iA2v4 pic.twitter.com/xceNOxc4et
— The Hill (@thehill) October 11, 2018
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The iconic Swift broke her long-held public political silence in an Instagram post Sunday night, encouraging her 112 million followers to vote in the November midterm elections. She also said she would be voting for Democrats and slammed Republican senate candidate, U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn. She also encouraged her followers to learn more about the candidates in their local elections.
According to Mic.com:
“In the hours and now days since her post, four of Swift’s albums have climbed back up the iTunes album sales charts. Reputation, which was released 11 months ago, was ranked No. 32 on Saturday, moved up to No. 25 the day of her Instagram post and hit No. 14 by Tuesday afternoon, as reported by a site that maintains records of album sales on iTunes. As W magazine noted, her album 1989 re-entered the top 100 on Monday and hit No. 74 by Tuesday. Another chart tracker, Pop Vortex, listed Wednesday that two more of her albums are currently on iTunes’ top 200: 2012’s Red was at No. 129 and 2008’s Fearlesswas at No. 130 as of press time.”
Swift also expressed her political views at the American Music Awards on Tuesday where she used that platform to encourage all young people to get out and vote.
Swift’s decision to wade into electoral politics for the first time on Sunday has driven a spike in online voter registration, particularly among young people, according to the website Vote.org.
“We are up to 65,000 registrations in a single 24-hour period since T. Swift’s post,” Kamari Guthrie, director of communications for Vote.org, told BuzzFeed News earlier this week.
“Vote.org saw Tennessee registrations spike specifically since Taylor’s post,” Guthrie continued.
By endorsing Democratic political candidates Taylor Swift saw an immediate financial benefit. As a result, it is possible that other recording artists may do the same thing. If they do, and if they express themselves as well as Taylor did, it is likely that they will see an increase in their album sales also. Let’s hope that happens, and soon!
I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.
