Gene Simmons might have the worst take on Taylor Swift fans ever

by

Gene Simmons is quite knowledgeable about the music industry. When KISS first started in the early 1970s, they weren’t widely recognized, but their record label (Casablanca) continued to support them financially, which ultimately led to their success. Taylor Swift, however, emerged during a different period.

The point that Swift or KISS might not have appealed to a diverse, wide-reaching audience is invalid because they were skilled enough at composing songs and creating albums that they could have gained popularity in almost any era. They weren’t merely a product of their time; rather, they significantly contributed to shaping the culture of their period.

During a chat with MusicRadar, Simmons contends that Taylor Swift’s immense popularity is largely due to how the music industry operates. He suggests, somewhat critically, that if it weren’t for this system, Swift might not be as widely recognized. Furthermore, he implies that the industry deliberately targets young girls and influences them to prefer a specific type of music.

KISS’s Gene Simmons has a strange take on Taylor Swift and her fans

Simmons explained that when file-sharing became commonplace, it led to a significant decrease in revenue for record companies. Since investing millions of dollars in an entire album could result in substantial losses if the album flopped, record companies shifted their focus towards singles instead. These single songs required less financial investment compared to full albums. Furthermore, they also targeted younger audiences as potential new fans.

It seems there’s much to consider in what was said, but Simmons strongly reiterated his point: “Indeed, Taylor Swift, known for her songs about heartache and similar themes, is the biggest live act performer overall. However, if we exclude women from the audience, then Taylor wouldn’t be.

This discussion isn’t about who’s correct between Gene Simmons and others regarding the impact of services like Napster on the music industry. Instead, it focuses on the fact that today, we primarily listen to individual tracks, regardless of whether they are produced by record companies or independent artists.

Initially, the music industry didn’t solely revolve around albums. During the dawn of rock, singles were significant drivers of sales. It wasn’t until almost a decade later that album sales started to dominate. Only when it was discovered that this approach could yield greater profits did the industry undergo a transformation.

Ever since streaming platforms have become the dominant means for people to enjoy music, record labels have adjusted their strategies to cater to the public’s behavior, as their main goal is profit. While this isn’t inherently a positive development in artistic terms, it is simply how businesses operate.

It’s not accurate to say that Taylor Swift lacks an audience outside of young girls due to them connecting with her songs about breakups and relationships. A similar claim was made about The Beatles when they first gained popularity in the U.S., yet they went on to have a lasting successful career.

Just like Taylor Swift, it’s her exceptional talent and shrewd business sense that have kept her at the top for over a decade. Her enduring success can be attributed to her unwavering honesty in her music, much like KISS has been.

Read More

2025-07-14 15:30