Taylor Connect Banner Contest!

Hey Swifties!

The 2nd banner contest was announced today over on Taylor’s OFFICIAL website/forums. If you like graphic design, this is the contest for you! The winning banner will be displayed on the top of the Taylor Connect forums for all to see for an indefinite amount of time!

Jordan, Taylor’s webmaster posted the rules earlier today. View them here: Taylor Connect Banner Contest Rules

If you haven’t joined Taylor Connect yet be sure to do it! It’s a great way to connect with Swifties from all over the world and share your love for Taylor!

Official Lyric Video For ‘Eyes Open’ RELEASED!

Today, Taylor released the official video for her second single off of ‘The Hunger Games’ soundtrack, ‘Eyes Open’. The video is a lyric video and it is extremely creative…CHECK IT OUT BELOW!

Taylor Lands on Forbes Annual ‘100 Most Powerful Celebrity List’!

Taylor performing at a stop on her sold out 111 date Speak Now World Tour in Australia in March 2012.

Taylor has landed at #11 on the Forbes’ Annual List of the 100 Most Powerful Celebrities. Ranking is based on earning made by that person over the course of the year as well as media exposure.

Swift benefitted from a huge tour this year, grossing over $1 million per night on more than 65 dates. She continues to cash in on her 2010 album Speak Now, which has now sold over 5 million copies worldwide; she picked up two Grammys for her song “Mean.” The young singer-songwriter also earns big as one of the faces of CoverGirl. Her fourth album is due this fall.

 

Taylor Pledges $4 Million To Fund New Education Center!

Taylor performing at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s All For The Hall Benefit concert in 2010 where she performed with Lionel Richie and Kris Kristofferson.

The Country Music Hall of Fame posted this article on their website earlier today. Taylor is pledging $4 million dollars to fund a new education center at the Country Music Hall of Fame. It is the largest donation by an artist in the 45 year history of the museum!

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 17, 2012 – Six-time Grammy Award winner Taylor Swift has pledged $4 million to fund a new education center at the Country Music Hall of Fame^® and Museum.  The more than 7,500-square foot space, which will encompass parts of two floors and feature three classrooms and a state-of-the-art children’s exhibit gallery, is scheduled to open in early 2014.

Swift’s gift is the largest capital contribution by an individual artist in the museum’s 45-year history, prompting the museum to name the new space the Taylor Swift Education Center.  The gift was made in conjunction with Working on a Building: Country Music Lives Here, the capital campaign that will finance the Country Music Hall of Fame^® and Museum’s expansion from 140,000 square feet to more than 350,000 square feet.

Swift has for years been a generous supporter of the museum, performing for the institution’s 2007 All for the Hall New York, 2009 We’re All for the Hall and 2010 All for the Hall Los Angeles benefits.  She has also loaned the museum dresses, stage costumes and instruments for display; a free-standing, Taylor Swift multimedia exhibit has been one of the museum’s most popular attractions since its debut in May, 2010.

“Taylor Swift represents country music’s best traditions,” said Museum Director Kyle Young.  “She is a gifted singer-songwriter whose deeply personal songs resonate with music fans around the world, and a dynamic live performer whose open heart and engaging personality allow her to make even the largest stadium shows an intimate experience.  Her many accomplishments – including being the youngest artist to single-handedly write and sing a #1 country song – have made music history, and she has been an ambassador for country music, raising awareness of our genre literally around the globe.

“Taylor is an artist who has always been ahead of the curve,” Young continued.  “By stepping forward to fund our education center, she has once again demonstrated that she has an eye on our industry’s future.  We are deeply indebted to Taylor for this wonderful gift, which will help us continue to fulfill our educational mission and serve our worldwide audience.  It is not an overstatement to say that the Taylor Swift Education Center will have a profound impact on our museum, our new campus, our city and even our country.  It will truly be the heart of our living museum, educating and inspiring young people and families, teaching them country music history and helping them to make meaningful connections between the music and their own lives.”

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE! 

Taylor Reaching Out To Fan and Victim Of Drunk Driving Accident!

Taylor performing at a stop on her sold out 111 date Speak Now World Tour.

There’s nothing Taylor Swift won’t due for a fan. Last year when Taylor was on the road during her sold out 111 date Speak Now World Tour, 13 year old Summer and her mom, Michelle were making there way to see one of Taylor’s shows at the Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, California when tradgedy struck. They were hit by a drunk driver and Summer was taken to the hospital due to injuries sustained from the accident. Unfortunately, the two never made it the concert.

The police officer, Mike Lowry, who arrived at the scene found out where the two were headed. He made it his mission to help Summer see Taylor Swift. Eventually, Taylor’s management found out about the accident and they guaranteed Summer tickets to see one of Taylor’s shows the next time she played in Sacramento. Taylor also personally signed some merchandise and sent it to Summer.

This isn’t the first time this year Taylor has reached out to a fan in need. In April, she was going to take cancer patient Kevin McGuire as her date to the ACM Awards. He wasn’t able to attend as he was back in the hospital the night of the awards show. Swift gave him a shoutout on the broadcast and vowed to make it up to him.

Taylor Writing With Ed Sheeran!

Taylor and Ed each sent out tweets about writing together earlier today.

Earlier today, Taylor tweeted that she was writing songs with Ed Sheeran.

Ed Sheeran is a successful UK artist who is currently signed to Assylum/Atlantic Records. Ed has released mutliple EP’s of his music and his debut studio album, entitled ‘+’, was released on September 9, 2011. His first single ‘The A Team’ was very successful hitting the #3 position on the UK Songs chart and selling 58,000 copies in its first week of release. In 2012, Ed won the British Breakthrough Act and the British Solo Male Artist at the Brit Awards. Head on over to edsheeran.com for more information on Ed and head to iTunes to purchase Ed’s music!

Hopefully, some of the songs that Taylor and Ed wrote will be on Taylor’s new album this fall! So excited to hear them!

Taylor Signs With IMG!

Taylor on the red carpet at 2011 American Music Awards where she took home 3 awards including ‘Artist of the Year.’

The Hollywood Reporter posted this article on April 27: 

“Music superstar Taylor Swift has signed with IMG for representation in worldwide marketing, endorsements, tour sponsorships and licensing.

She continues to be represented by WME in other areas, including film, television, books and touring.

Swift has won six Grammy Awards and sold more than 20 million records worldwide. The singer’s eponymous first album was released in 2006 when she was 16 and featured five singles that went platinum, including “Tim McGraw” and “Teardrops on My Guitar.”

She since has released two other full-length studio albums:Fearless (2008) and Speak Now(2010). She also contributed the song “Safe & Sound” to this year’s Hunger Gamessoundtrack.

She continues to be represented by WME in other areas, including film, television, books and touring.

Swift has won six Grammy Awards and sold more than 20 million records worldwide. The singer’s eponymous first album was released in 2006 when she was 16 and featured five singles that went platinum, including “Tim McGraw” and “Teardrops on My Guitar.”

She since has released two other full-length studio albums:Fearless (2008) and Speak Now(2010). She also contributed the song “Safe & Sound” to this year’s Hunger Gamessoundtrack.

Swift has pursued acting in recent years, appearing inValentine’s Day (2010) and lending her voice to the March animated film The Lorax. She also has hostedSaturday Night Live and appeared on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, both in 2009.

Media company IMG has various divisions, including a television unit that distributes and produces sports programs, a brand consulting group and a talent representation group, which manages the careers of athletes, executives, actors and musicians.

The company was founded by Mark McCormack and was headed by Ted Forstmann until his death late last year.

Swift will be represented by a team led by Alan Zucker, who is senior vp of IMG’s clients division and managing director of its talent marketing division.”

View the original article at thehollywoodreporter.com! 

Taylor To Be Featured On MTV’s World Stage!

MTV World Stage promotional graphic.

Taylor is being featured on MTV’s World Stage today! Performances from Taylor’s sold out 111 date Speak Now World Tour will be featured on international MTV stations on Friday May 11.

Check your local listings for showtimes. Below is a statment from MTV regarding MTV World Stage:

“MTV is breaking down the walls and giving fans an all access pass to the world’s most explosive musical showcase ever. This week features the planet’s biggest country star Taylor Swift. Check out a preview of the show below right now…

Every week we’ll be showing gigs that were filmed all over the world, from Tokyo to London, from the biggest acts in pop, rock and hip hop.

It’s your chance to see the hottest concerts where ever you are in the world courtesy of your favourite music channel – MTV.

Don’t Miss It.”

SOURCE

‘Both of Us’ To Be Released As Single May 22!

Taylor and B.O.B. performing his hit song ‘Airplanes’ in Dallas, TX on a stop during Taylor’s sold-out Speak Now World Tour.

Taylor’s collaboration, ‘Both Of Us,’ which is featured on his BRAND NEW album, ‘Strange Clouds’, if OFFICIALLY being released as his next single off the album.

The song had amazing success in its first week of release boasting first week sales of 148,000 downloads and taking the #18 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song also made it’s way to the #3 spot on the iTunes songs chart.

The song will be sent to radio on May 22.

Listen to the Glee Cast’s Version of ‘Mean’!

http://www.gleethemusic.com

The Glee cast’s version of ‘Mean’ is now available for listen as part of First Listen Friday on gleethemusic.com! ‘Mean’ is being performed by Dot Marie Jones (Coach Beiste) and Mark Salling (Puck). Dot Marie Jones’ character, Shannon Beiste is currently involved in a storyline dealing with domestic violence. They did a FANTASTIC job on the song and you will defineitly want to check it out!

Don’t miss TWO BRAND NEW episodes of Glee entitled ‘Props’ and ‘Nationals’ airing back to back this Tuesday May 15 at 8PM EST on FOX. All 10 songs from both episodes are available for listen on gleethemusic.com and will be available for purchase on iTunes on May 15.