Inside Music Curation: Taylor Swift

Why Taylor still defines the moment

In this month’s Inside Music Curation, the Feed.fm team turned their curatorial lens toward one of the biggest artists on the planet: Taylor Swift. Her new album, Life of a Showgirl, has dominated the conversation, and for good reason. The team unpacked how Taylor’s sound continues to evolve, how it performs across fitness environments, and what her ongoing influence means for curators today.

As Claire put it, the excitement began long before release day. “We were definitely hoping for more pop fanfare and upbeat, but quality Swedish-influenced production.” With Max Martin and Shellback behind the album, the team expected a return to the kind of Taylor Swift pop energy that works especially well for fitness.

A bridge between eras

Life of a Showgirl surprised curators with its balance of storytelling and pop sensibility. “It wasn’t as glossy or dancey as I expected,” said Claire, “but it acted like a musical bridge between the storytelling of Folklore and Evermore and the success she’s had with Max Martin productions.”

Eric "Stens" Stensvaag agreed, calling it “a victory lap,” adding, “We are living in the Taylor Swift era.” Julia, Feed.fm’s designer and resident Swifty, described it as “really representative of where she’s at right now… She owns her master's, she’s had the highest-grossing tour of all time, and it’s such a fun album.”

The team also noted a new level of openness in her writing. “The number of tracks marked as explicit is definitely a big shift,” Claire said. “This is the literal uncensored version of what’s going on.”

Programming Taylor for fitness

For curators, Taylor’s versatility makes her a mainstay across Feed.fm fitness stations. Her catalog performs consistently, even in unexpected places. “People want to hear a lot of Taylor Swift,” said Stens. “We’re pulling from all across the breadth of what she’s been making. Even when we add lower-intensity songs like "Lavender Haze" or "Anti-Hero" to fitness stations. The skip rates are still really low.”

That emotional connection drives performance metrics far beyond BPM. Taylor’s lyrical strength and message of empowerment keep users motivated, whether they’re lifting, stretching, or pushing through a tough set. When higher energy is needed, remixes like "Karma (ft. Ice Spice)" give curators the flexibility to match workout intensity while keeping her signature sound intact.

Check out our picks for the Best Taylor Swift Workout Songs.

The Taylor class

Taylor’s influence extends well beyond her own catalog. The team described the rise of a “Taylor class” of artists, new voices shaped by her songwriting and confidence. “We’re at an age now where girls who grew up listening to early Taylor are now artists,” said Claire. “That extends to Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abram… you can hear the confidence to do what they’re doing coming from the trail she’s blazed.”

This next generation carries Taylor’s sense of empowerment and authenticity into their own music, giving curators more ways to connect listeners with powerful, emotionally charged pop.

What the team is spinning

To wrap up the session, the Feed.fm team shared a favorite track:

• Melissa: “Canceled” — “It’s the one that pops back into my head. Catchy and a little more on the rock side.”
• Julia: “Ruin the Friendship” — “It hits that Speak Now and Red nostalgia.”
• Stens: “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” — “It breaks the fourth wall… it’s tongue in cheek about how hard it is to be a performer.”
• Claire: “Elizabeth Taylor” — “It mixes the personal and celebrity metaphor really well. It’s fun on repeat listens.”

What curators and brands can learn

Taylor Swift’s catalog is proof that longevity and reinvention can coexist. For curators, it’s a reminder that authenticity and emotion often drive stronger engagement than tempo alone. And for digital fitness brands, it’s a lesson in how music connects users to moments that matter.

At Feed.fm, we bring that same connection to every app experience, with licensed music, expert curation, and a Unified Music System that makes it easy to launch with confidence.

Want to bring more curated music magic to your app or brand?

Explore how Feed.fm’s intentional music strategy helps brands celebrate cultural moments, deepen user connection, and drive real engagement.

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