But, it’s not just the music industry recognizing her talent. Business schools around the US are increasingly embracing the singer’s flair for business.
With her multi-millionaire dollar earning 'Eras' tour, her skillful manoeuvring to gain ownership of her master tapes, and her history-making Grammy win, she has established herself as a savvy business mind as well as a talented singer-songwriter.
Swift's achievements and her public image strategy have led to courses and case studies based on her career popping up at business schools.
These are some of the places where you could combine an interest in business education with a passion for Taylor Swift.
University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business
Berkeley's Haas School of Business recently announced a full course based on the four-time Album of the Year Grammy winner
From this spring, students attending the California college will have the option to enlist in a course that explores the business success of the pop star and her ability to create an enterprise out of her music.
The class will begin in spring as part of UC Berkeley’s Democratic Education program, which gives students the option to study courses they’re interested in. It will be taught by Crystal Haryanto, an economics graduate from UC Berkeley, alongside another current student at the school.
The online class syllabus states: “Swift’s ability to connect with listeners is unparalleled. Through lyricism, branding, and craft, we’ll explore how art and authenticity create enduring value and a viable enterprise.”
University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business
Virginia's Darden School of Business is also showing recognition of the savvy business mind of Swift through a new case study on the highly publicized controversy over the ownership of her master recordings.
This offers students an in-depth look at the human and business factors that Shamrock Capital—an investment fund that paid $300 million for Swift’s old music—had to consider when evaluating the purchase.
The case is particularly effective at introducing firm valuation techniques and serves as the introductory case for Darden’s course 'Valuation in Financial Markets'.
University of Houston CT Bauer College of Business
Houston-based Bauer College of Business is recognizing Swift’s skills in entrepreneurship through a new course titled: 'The Entrepreneurial Genius of Taylor Swift'.
The course will center on each different album—or era—of the pop star's career. It will be taught by Kelly McCormick, a professor of practice and managing director for the university's 'Red Labs' startup accelerator.
McCormick said Bauer College is the ideal venue for the class, given the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship and the college’s focus on applicable business lessons.
According to McCormick the course will go through the basics of entrepreneurship while also incorporating how Swift has capitalized on her marketing skills.
"They'll get a general introduction to entrepreneurship through the lens of what she's done in her career, but learning about how to engage your customers," said McCormick. "She has fans, but businesses have customers, so how to delight them, how to have a really great brand. How to recreate that brand over time."
While seemingly a step away from the finance and management topics business schools are renowned for teaching, these courses and case studies demonstrate how today's business schools are adapting to the modern world and show how they can be innovative when bringing a new generation into business education.
The main image in this article is attributed to ©Jana Zills and used under this license
