From boom to backlash: has Taylor Swift lost her touch? – podcast

She's a global pop star who appears relatable even as her tours alter a country's economy. Bu her new album has sparked surprisingly fierce criticism. Alexis Petridis and Laura Snapes explain.

She is by any measure the biggest pop star in the world, which has made her ability to retain her relatable appeal all the more impressive. But this week Taylor Swift seems to have made a rare misstep.

For decades her fans have watched her grow from a teenage country star to globally recognised billionaire, and she has taken them with her, thanks to her sharp lyrics about growing up, relationships and heartbreak. But it's not just about the music. She has cultivated a unique connection with her Swifties, dropping clues in her music and content and encouraging them to decode it, explains the Guardian's deputy music editor, Laura Snapes. And it has paid off. The Eras tour boosted the UK economy by 1bn.