The Poetic Justice of Taylor Swift
The Benevolence of Billionaires
We usually think about justice in legal terms – equal treatment with laws and penalties that are known in advance. However, the more important aspect of justice is poorly understood - and because of that, moral recognition for honesty is split with mediocrity. That punishes good people. And to repair moral justice, Chapter Four of my book puts it in economic terms:
But only when innovation, efficiency and distribution become aligned with buyers do profits materialize. Some call it “the invisible hand,” others call it “spontaneous order,” but objective investors call it “poetic justice” — that twist of reality that rewards integrity.
To be clear, integrity is loyalty to rational principles and consistency among words and actions. Principles are fundamental truths from which you can set long term goals.
Not surprisingly, the principles outlined in Chapter Seven of The Moneyball Method are consistent with the business practices of the most prominent music artist in America today – Taylor Swift. According to Deloitte Digital, who describes their work as: “From ideation to realization, we connect innovation with intellectual rigor to drive growth across the entire customer experience,” here are the Six strategic marketing insights from Taylor Swift aligned with my six Propositions for objective investors:
Objective Values
Create blank space in crowded markets – Swift’s approach demonstrates the importance of identifying and addressing unmet needs. By creating new categories, brands can achieve differentiation that resonates with customers.
Efficient Markets
Build a brand on intimacy and connection – This approach isn’t just about selling albums; it’s about creating a community where fans feel personally connected to her journey. Swift’s fan-first strategy is a masterclass in customer obsession. She doesn’t just engage with her audience; she invites them into her world, fostering a sense of belonging and loyalty.
Long-term Assumptions
Rebrand with purpose: The transition from country to pop - One of Swift’s strategic moves was her thoughtful change from country to pop music. It was a complete rebranding effort that maintained her core brand values while expanding her reach. This transparency fostered trust and allowed her audience to embrace the change.
Avoid Sacrifice
Use community for brand growth – Swift’s decision to allow fans to live-stream her concerts during the Eras Tour exemplifies this strategy. Rather than monetizing every aspect of her career, she empowers her fans to become co-creators of her brand narrative. This not only enhances engagement but also fosters a sense of ownership among her audience.
Entrepreneurial Mindset
Innovate beyond expectations – For marketers, Evers suggests that Swift’s entrepreneurial mindset reminds them to continually seek new opportunities for engagement and growth. By prioritizing innovation and customer satisfaction, brands can achieve long-term success.
Contingency Plans
Embrace change through calculated risk-taking – Her move to the pop genre was a significant risk, but it was executed with precision and purpose. Evers highlights the importance of embracing change and taking calculated risks. By communicating the reasons behind those strategic pivots, brands can foster trust and maintain customer loyalty—even through periods of transformation—and drive growth.
Dollar-Weighted Performance
Kevin Evers is a senior editor at Harvard Business Review, the author the 2025 book There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift, and whose book summary asks:
How has she managed to make and remake herself time and again while remaining true to her artistic vision? And how has she managed to master the constant disruption in the music business that has made it so hard for others to adapt and endure?
Evers can answer those questions well, but there are two more important things to know about Taylor Swift’s wealth and popularity. That she can do it and that she did. This can only happen when the flow of capital is free to incubate ever increasing specialization - which is the result of the ever-increasing specialization of free minds applied to reality. Or as finance journalist John Tamny wrote in his 2024 book, Bringing Adam Smith into the American Home:
Back among us mortals, if we’re lucky, smart, or both, we pursue the kind of work most commensurate with our skills. The more specialized we are in what we do, the more productive we are.
And satisfied. Swift was lucky to have parents that recognized her passion, supported her talent, took calculated risks, put Taylor in the best position to succeed, and accepted the total uncertainty of success. Her father was a capitalist – a Boomer that steered his Millennial daughter to rationally selfish recording contracts. In turn, she delivers an experience that is commensurate to millions of Gen Z fans of country and popular music and employment opportunities to millions of others.
Today, Taylor Swift’s net worth is estimated to be in the $1.5 to $2 billion dollar range, and that is invested in her music catalog, real estate, recording companies, venture capital, closed end funds (CEFs), and lord knows what.
The important thing is that hundreds of millions (or more) are invested in wealth-building enterprises. Not only does this render financial benefits to Swift, but also far greater economic and social benefits for everyone. That is because large concentrations of wealth find talent that can cure disease, accelerate travel, increase productivity, lower prices, free time, and create a future that is difficult to imagine.
That is the poetic justice of earned profit, as Tamny further explains: “What recommends free exchange or trade the most is that it frees us to do the work that most elevates our unique talents.” And one good way to recognize your own unique talents are to identify them with the tools available in The Moneyball Method: beginning with the Site Map, accept the uncertainty of markets, take calculated risks, and measure success by the one standard that matters - buying time to live with purpose.
That is the blessing of America. Happy American Thanksgiving!