“If she does win, then what does she strive for later? At nineteen and already at the top…unbelievable and a little ridiculous..in my opinion.”

“Like I said, I don’t begrudge her quick success, but still can’t think of her as an artist that will stand the test of time,and I won’t ever be able to put her in the category with the artist I mentioned. Do you honestly think Taylor could have reached success without the internet??”

These are really interesting points. I don’t know if she could have achieved what she has without the internet, but that’s the thing: she understands better than just about any act out there how to exploit the power of the internet and give her fans exactly what they want – namely, more access to her, the artist. I don’t think she learned that from record execs, because even record execs have struggled with it. She wouldn’t have anything to sell if her songs didn’t have appeal, and I think that alone is evidence of serious hard work on her part, but it’s also clear she’s been working smarter than a lot of people in marketing terms, which has definitely been equally important.

I agree that she probably wouldn’t have succeeded trying to perform her way up through bars, but I don’t begrudge her that, because neither would a lot of pop-oriented singers. Pop music today is very much about the production, Taylor’s included, so it wouldn’t have worked for honky tonk performances and the like. And yeah, she’s not a great singer. So that setting wouldn’t have played to her strengths.

Now, as to whether she’ll stand the test of time – I have no idea. Taylor Swift’s pervasiveness is such that we consume everything she puts out very subjectively. I don’t know if future generations will find her songs objectively good or be absolutely baffled as to why there was hysteria about her. I could really see it going either way.

Just as I don’t think Carrie Underwood deserves flack for getting her start on a talent show and not in the bars, I also don’t hold Taylor Swift’s start against her either. There are a number of respected legends who got their starts in other ways than “paying their dues” in bars or clubs, including Connie Smith (who didn’t even have any intention of singing as a career) meeting Bill Anderson at a local talent show. So, this is not necessarily a new phenomenon that’s exclusive to this generation of music.