Taylor Swift makes musical history – again | Ents & Arts News

Taylor Swift has become the youngest woman ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, aged 36.

A multi-Grammy-winning artist, in 2023 Swift smashed touring records when her Eras Tour became the first to take over $1bn (£745m).

Her success inspired the coining of the term “Swiftonomics” to describe the boost in local spending which would accompany each of her gigs as she travelled around the globe.

Accepting the honour, Swift told the audience: “It was instinctual. No one taught me how to do it”.

She went on to thank her family for their sacrifices, moving from Pennsylvania to Nashville, Tennessee, to support her music career when she was just 14.

Just last year, Swift officially bought back the rights to her first six albums, after re-recording them as “Taylor’s Versions”.

Swift also offered young songwriters advice: “You really have to prioritise what you love, down to your very core. Because you’ll need that.”

The prize was introduced by Disclosure Day director Steven Spielberg, who said of Swift’s songwriting prowess: “Somehow Taylor knows us all too well”.

Although making history as the youngest woman to be inducted, the overall record for the youngest songwriter ever inducted is held by Stevie Wonder, who started his recording career at just 13.

Others taking awards on the night included Kiss founders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, Footloose writer Kenny Loggins, Christopher “Tricky” Stewart – who’s the songwriter behind Rihanna’s Umbrella – and Alanis Morissette.

Established in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame honours those creating popular music. A songwriter with a notable catalogue of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.

In recent years, the trend of established artists selling off their back catalogues for large sums has put the business value of songwriting firmly in the public eye.

Stars already in the hall include Elton John, Gloria Estefan, Carole King, Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Olivia Newton-John and Phil Collins.