"Well partner, it seems like there is a new sheriff in town. And her name is Taylor Swift."
Recently, a good friend of mine sent me a link to read Taylor Swift's open letter to Apple.
Yep, you read right. Apple.
The 700 Billion dollar Gorilla of a tech company that makes those little gadgets with an "i" in front of them.
In her letter she was respectful, assertive and to the point. Apple was being greedy. Full stop. Someone needed to speak out and the little guy was not going to have a seat at this table.
So it was a really good thing that Taylor spoke out like she did to make Apple re-think their actions.
The power of words
We have all heard the saying that the pen is mightier than the sword. And my guess is that that saying didn't become a cliché for nothing. Most clichés are based on some element of truth that have been repeated so often that we are tired of hearing it. That doesn't make it any less true and why I think its so important to chose your words wisely. In Taylor's case she did just that.
The power of influence
Taylor is really connected with her fans and when this hit the Internet it spread like a wildfire. That influence is priceless and didn't happen over night.
The power of social media
Some people still doubt the influence of social media on today's culture but instances like this keep proving that it is a force to be reckoned with and it is here to stay. Just like the printing press, social media has changed our cultural landscape. And one would be wise to embrace it.
The power of standing up for what is right
What stuck me the most is that Taylor didn't have to do this. She earns enough cash whether she is on Apple Music or not. It was a selfless act of kindness that dealt a strong media blow to Apple as they plan their takeover of the streaming industry.
If you haven't had the chance to, I highly recommend that you read Taylor Swifts letter. For musicians and those who create music it is a game changer.
This took real guts!
So, Thank You Taylor Swift!