This year has seen a number of high-profile celebrity scandals, some of which have revolved around the issue of cyber-stalking and harassment. Most notably, Robert Pattinson, who is currently in a relationship with Taylor Swift, has been the subject of much gossip and media speculation due to the sheer volume of online abuse he has received. In fact, so much attention has been paid to this issue that the United Nations has even declared 2019 the “International Year of the Writer”.
Now, while it’s true that online harassment is a real issue that has been taking the world by storm, it’s also important to remember that not all attention is negative. Many famous people have taken the time to thank their haters for giving them so much attention, and even going as far as to say that they enjoy and value the criticism. However, this is not the case with Pattinson. Despite all the recent controversy, his career is actually on the rise. According to Billboard, his albums and songs are currently topping the charts, and he has been touring the world tirelessly since the conclusion of his Twilight Saga.
So, is he really reading all the online harassment and criticism, or is he just trying to keep his private life private? Let’s find out…
The Rise Of ‘Walking On Sunshine’
For the past two years, the music industry has been struggling with a serious case of the “Summer Slump”. Sales have been steadily declining, and it hasn’t been helped by the fact that the summer months are some of the most popular times for music consumption. In 2019, that all changed. Thanks in large part to Taylor Swift, whose Reputation and Red album topped the Billboard 200 in 2019, along with her former album, Fearless. This was followed by a joint tour by the artist and her boyfriend, Kanye West. The tour was called “History in the Making”, and it featured some truly spectacular performances, including a spectacle-filled show in Madrid, Spain on June 1st.
Prior to this year, if you’d asked most people which artists they thought would have the most success in the coming years, they would’ve probably guessed Rihanna or Drake. Certainly, these are high-profile artists who have been responsible for some of the biggest releases in recent years, and they have both risen to the top of the heap rather quickly. However, what emerged this year is that, perhaps, no one is safe from the “Summer Slump”. It seems that everyone is experiencing a decline in album sales, except for a select few.
Why Is Taylor Swift Rising?
The most obvious answer is that she is in a committed relationship with one of the most popular men in the world, and she is also the Queen of Twitter, with over 150 million followers. These two factors put her in a very unique position. Not only does she have a massive audience, but she also has the opportunity to influence others with her words, just as her boyfriend has influenced her musical tastes. So, it is quite possible that she is using her platform to save the music industry, or at least, her own slice of it. There is some truth to that, as she has repeatedly said that she wants to change the game, and she is doing just that.
Kanye West’s Influence On Taylor
Another key reason for Taylor’s success this year is her relationship with Kanye West. The 39-year-old rapper has been an influential figure in her life, dating back to the very beginning, when they were both signed to Roc-A-Fella Records. He has always encouraged her to be herself, and to not be afraid to express her true feelings, however, he has also helped shape who she is as an artist. While most people (including myself) were skeptical about whether or not Kanye would be able to influence Taylor, his track record speaks for itself. The most recent example of this is “BTS”, which was named after the seven members of the band, known as the “BTS7”. The group has sold over 125 million albums worldwide, with their last album, Map of the Soul, hitting number one on the Billboard Top Albums chart in 2018.
Why Are Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber And Post Malone On The Rise?
The third key reason for Taylor Swift’s album sales this year is that there was simply more good music than bad. Let’s face it, as entertaining as the 2020 Summer Olympics were, we probably didn’t need another “Chopsticks” or “Puppy”. Thankfully, we were blessed with some amazing new music in the form of Ed Sheeran’s ÷ album, which features incredible songs like “Perfect” and “Shape of You”, along with “Castle on the Hill”, which is a duet with Justin Bieber.
The same can be said for Post Malone’s collaboration with Lil Nas X, a song called “Old Town Road”, which became an instant hit, topping the Billboard Top 100 just a few weeks after its release.
Why Did Bruno Mars’ Singles Have A Hard Time Standing Out?
Finally, let’s not forget about Bruno Mars’ disappointing album, which was called “24K Magic”. Despite its incredible title, the album only managed to reach number 13 on the Billboard Top Albums chart. However, that couldn’t hide the fact that the 26-year-old singer had released some incredible chart-topping singles, such as “That Would Be Enough” and “Uptown Funk!”. So, while Mars may not have found the formula for success in 2019, it definitely wasn’t for a lack of trying.
Is This Year’s Celebrity Scandals Behind Us?
While we can’t be sure that this year’s celebrity scandals are behind us, at least, for now, it seems that the tide has begun to turn. Thanks, in large part, to the efforts of activists, journalists and lawmakers, who are working to combat online harassment and stalking. In the months since the start of the year, there have been a number of successful laws and initiatives put in place to protect the privacy and security of celebrities and other high-profile individuals.
As we’ve seen with Taylor and Kanye, cyber-stalking and harassment can have serious ramifications, both mentally and physically. While we might not always like what celebrities have to say or do to make headlines, when it comes to their personal safety, we should all feel strongly about defending them against these cyber-scammers and trolls.