Taylor Swift named Time magazine’s Person of the Year for 2023

In a year marked by diverse achievements, controversies, and cultural influence, Time magazine has officially declared Taylor Swift as its Person of the Year for 2023.

The announcement was made on Wednesday (6 Dec) morning by Sam Jacobs, the magazine’s editor in chief, who described the selection process as a challenging task given the vast array of global personalities.

“Picking one person who represents the eight billion people on the planet is no easy task. We picked a choice that represents joy. Someone who’s bringing light to the world,” said Jacobs.

Swift emerged victorious over eight other notable finalists, including King Charles III and the iconic Barbie.

Time magazine highlighted Swift’s unparalleled accomplishments as an artist, citing her cultural, critical, and commercial impact.

“Swift’s accomplishments as an artist — culturally, critically, and commercially — are so legion that to recount them seems almost beside the point,” the magazine wrote.

The year 2023 saw Taylor Swift making headlines on multiple fronts, starting with her immensely popular Eras Tour that overwhelmed Ticketmaster, the release of the rerecorded version of her 2014 album “1989,” breaking sales records.

Additionally, her relationship with Travis Kelce, the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, became a subject of public interest.

Swift’s dominance extended to the Billboard charts, where songs from her 2022 album “Midnights” and previous albums achieved remarkable success.

Notably, her 2019 track “Cruel Summer” from the “Lover” album topped the Billboard Hot 100 four years after its initial release. The artist also released rerecorded versions of her albums “Speak Now” and “1989,” featuring additional tracks.

On a personal note, Swift experienced changes in her romantic life, parting ways with longtime partner Joe Alwyn in the spring and facing fan backlash over rumored involvement with controversial singer Matt Healy.

Time’s cover story, based on an interview with Swift, delves into various aspects of her life over the past year.

The article includes details about her relationship with Travis Kelce, insights into her upcoming rerecording of the 2017 “Reputation” album, and reflections on her mindset during a public feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian in the mid-2010s.

Beyond her musical and personal accomplishments, Taylor Swift has become a subject of academic and journalistic interest. Harvard University plans to offer a class titled “Taylor Swift and Her World,” while Gannett, the largest newspaper chain in the United States, has assigned a special reporter exclusively covering Swift.

Time’s Person of the Year award launched as a marketing gimmick in the 1920s, aims to recognize the individual, group, or concept that has had the most influence on the world throughout the previous 12 months.

Previous recipients include Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, Elon Musk, and in 2019, climate activist Greta Thunberg.

The history of Time’s Person of the Year has not been without controversy. In 1938, the magazine selected Adolf Hitler, and Josef Stalin received the dubious honour twice, in 1939 and 1942.

The list includes President Richard M. Nixon and his national security adviser Henry Kissinger in 1972 and a recognition of regular citizens in 1969 as “The Middle Americans.”

In some instances, Time chose a more abstract approach, such as in 2006 when a mirror graced the magazine’s cover, symbolizing “You” as the Person of the Year. Additionally, in 1982, the designation deviated from an individual to acknowledge the “machine of the year”: the computer.

As Time continues to honour figures who have left a significant mark on the global stage, Taylor Swift’s recognition as the Person of the Year for 2023 underlines her enduring impact on music, culture, and society at large.

Swift joins a prestigious list of individuals and concepts that have shaped the narrative of their respective times, solidifying her status as a cultural icon.