We’ve had quite enough of Taylor Swift now, chorus exasperated BBC viewers
Her megastardom has somehow switched to superstellar since her latest release marked her 12th UK number one album in the 21st century alone.
But now the BBC has come under fire for its extensive news coverage of Taylor Swift’s new work – with critics branding it a desperate attempt to attract a younger audience.
Over the past week, it has devoted significant airtime to the ubiquitous Ms Swift, 34, and she was even the subject of BBC radio 4’s Thought for the Day on the Today Programme.
Numerous articles have been written about fans’ reaction to the apparent leaking of The Tortured Poets Department online, how a London pub was ‘overwhelmed’ after being named in the title of an album track, and the return of her songs to TikTok after a dispute with the app.
The broadcaster even published an analysis of how the Shake it Off singer fits into the tradition of the poets of Ancient Greece.
One BBC viewer, Sojnia Hains, said: ‘How is the fact that a pop singer has brought out two new albums national news when it really isn’t? This is the sort of item you would expect to see on a magazine programme.’
Another, Claire Maclannan, contacted BBC’s Newswatch, which gives viewers’ opinions on BBC News coverage, to say: ‘I’m not sure I’ve ever heard any other
‘Should be paid for marketing’
musician or artist talked about on so many channels. It seemed a major item on the news coverage on BBC One TV, several times a day for several days and it was just, “Not again!”.
‘I couldn’t believe the level of coverage, really the BBC should be paid for marketing her.
‘Are they desperately trying to get young people to watch?
The BBC hit back: ‘Taylor Swift is a significant figure in popular culture, and we know our audiences, younger audiences especially, are interested in her work.’
■ Scots band The Blue Nile have had a huge sales boost after being name-dropped by Taylor Swift.
A spokesman for the band said: ‘The Blue Nile’s online store has sold out of all vinyl copies of their catalogue albums including Hats, which features the song The Downtown Lights referenced by Taylor Swift.’