Taylor Swift vs. Beyoncé: Who is better?
Fact Box
- Born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1989, Taylor Alison Swift first started working in the music industry when she and her family moved to the Nashville, Tennessee area and, at age 14, was contracted by Sony/ATV to be a songwriter.
- Beyoncé Giselle Knowles was born in Houston, Texas, in 1981 and first achieved stardom in the 1990s as the lead singer for R&B group Destiny’s Child.
- As of June 2023, Forbes reported that Taylor Swift’s net worth was $740 million, and Beyonce’s was $540 million.
- Billboard states that as of July 2023, Beyoncé has had eight No. 1 Hits and 21 Top Ten Hits, while Taylor Swift has had nine No. 1 Hits and 42 Top Ten Hits.
Maha (Beyoncé)
Immense talent, powerful stage presence, iconic performances, and a commanding voice. These are just a few of the characteristics that earned Beyoncé the title 'Queen Bey' and solidified her reign as contemporary pop music royalty. Since her first performance at the age of seven, she has created a legacy that's unparalleled in just three decades.
According to Guinness World Records, Beyoncé has over 15 record titles, including Most BET Awards Nominations for an Individual (75) and Most Wins at the MTV Video Music Awards (30). Even the prestigious Grammy Awards acknowledges her supremacy. With 88 nominations, she is the most nominated female artist in Grammy history. Of these, she won 32 awards.
Awards aside, Beyoncé is an innovator when it comes to music. She's credited as the inventor of the 'album drop' as she released 'Beyoncé' without warning in 2013. The album also featured 17 videos, mainstreaming the 'visual album' concept.
Also confirming her royal status is her earnings. In fact, Beyoncé's numbers are bound to increase further as Forbes predicts her 2023 “Renaissance” Tour may earn $2.1 billion. That is $500 million more than the estimated $1.6 billion Taylor Swift may make from her “Eras” Tour.
And like royalty, Beyoncé has a strong, loyal following: The BeyHive. This fanbase's devotion has been proven over the years, be it when they crashed her website after announcing her “Formation” Tour or going after Kevin Federline for calling her 'sawface.'
Based on these facts alone, Beyoncé has every right to sing, 'I'm bigger than life.'
Joanna (Taylor Swift)
Beyoncé may have a royal title bestowed upon her by her fans, but she's no Taylor Swift when it comes to artistry.
Swift's transition from a teenage country music singer to one of the world's most versatile artists speaks volumes about her talent. After making waves in country and pop, she explored rock and folk, among other genres. Her ability to defy categorization is in stark comparison to Beyoncé's success limited primarily to R&B and pop.
Another artistic edge Taylor has over Beyoncé is in her writing. Whereas Queen Bey is 'involved in the songwriting process,' Taylor has written 54 songs by herself, many of which showcased her storytelling talent. Even when she joins forces with other songwriters, they're a handful compared to the hundreds Beyoncé relies on.
Swift's talent has been recognized with many significant titles over the years. The Grammy Awards has her as the youngest artist to win Album of the Year and the first woman to win the award twice. She's also on Forbes' World's 100 Most Powerful Women list, ranking higher than Beyoncé.
All that aside, Taylor stays grounded. Whereas Beyoncé has become a lesser approachable queen, Swift connects with her fans and gives them glimpses of her life through social media platforms.
She's also more committed to taking a stand to fight for musicians' rights. Not only did Swift fight for her own catalog, but she was also very vocal against Apple Music's policy of not paying artists during its three-month free trial period.
So, even without a title preceding her name, Taylor Swift is definitely the reigning queen of music.
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