As Taylor Swift releases fresh twists on her classic albums, fans everywhere are working together to make sure the past stays dead.
Every artist can benefit from having fans as devoted as those who follow Taylor Swift. Known globally as ‘Swifties,’ the Taylor fan army is one of the most vocal, active, and (generally speaking) positive communities in music today. Taylor has always gone above and beyond to make sure her fans know they are appreciated, so it should come as no surprise to learn her fans are doing everything they can to make her latest release an unprecedented success.
Recently, Swift released Fearless (Taylor’s Version), a remake of her 2008 Sophomore album. The album features new versions of every song from the original Fearless, as well as a few previously unheard tracks. Re-recording the album is Taylor’s way of reclaiming ownership of her catalog, which her previous label (Big Machine) sold without her consent. Swift hopes the new versions can replace the original works, and fans worldwide are banding together to help the singer’s dreams come true.
Currently, there are four versions of Fearless available on most streaming services. Swift cannot legally have the previous versions of the album removed, but her fans are taking steps to help others avoid engaging with material that the singer no longer wishes to promote. The Twitter account @swifferupdates is one of at least several offering advice on how to make Swift’s OG Big Machine tracks (or at least the ones that she has yet released replacements for) disappear from fans’ Spotify recommendations for good.
A thread titled ‘How to Hide Fearless (Original) on Spotify’ offers screenshots and step-by-step instructions for hiding all Big Machine versions of the record from an individual’s Spotify account. The simple, yet time-consuming process involves clicking “hide the song” individually on each track from several different Big Machine editions of the album, plus a live release, plus a number of stand-along bonus tracks or remixes.
The list includes every song on Fearless (Platinum Edition), then each song on Fearless (International Version), then Fearless (Big Machine Radio Release Special), then the individual track “Today Was a Fairytale” (a soundtrack cut never included on Fearless, but a bonus track on the new release), then the collection Live From Clear Channel Stripped 2008 (a release Big Machine uploaded to streaming services after she left the label, to her public displeasure), then “Love Story” (Digital Dog Remix),” then “Love Story (Pop Mix)” and, finally, “You’re Not Sorry (CSI Remix).”
Missing from the initial instructions is the original version of Fearless, but the same rules apply.
Fans hoping to support Taylor-owned releases may also choose to create a playlist consisting only of songs she owns. That would include everything from Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Folklore, Evermore, and 2019’s Lover.
Swift plans to re-record her other four Big Machine releases in the years ahead, which means fans will need to Hide a lot of tracks to prioritize Taylor-owned material.
Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.
