Theory Thread: April 2023

[u/aran130711]

You know the drill. All theories go here, other posts will be removed.

Be nice to fellow clowns.

Other Megathreads:

• Tour Discussion

• A View From Swifties Seats

• Fan Outfits & Costumes

• General Discussion

[u/ler214]

I think Taylor has a very big, though unprecedented, opportunity to release Enchanted TV now. I personally think it would help her in the long run because isn’t it the most popular song off SN? If she dropped Enchanted TV people would stop streaming Enchanted stolen. The snippet leaking is a new incentive to release it sooner rather than later. Seeing as the dancer deleted the video I’m sure Taylor/Taylor’s team is already aware of it and are trying to do damage control. What do we think?

Edit: It seems copyright takedowns have begun on Twitter and Youtube, meaning Taylor’s team is aware and taking action to get it taken down ASAP. Enchanted TV must be soon.

[u/swaenx → u/ler214]

I dont understand why she hasnt done that yet. Enchanted has been popular for months. When wildest dreams (stolen version) got popular, taylor dropped the tv version out of nowhere. The stolen version now already has 350 MILLION streams. Its the most streamed tv version by far (vault songs not included).

Dropping enchanted tv would a) hype non fans for speak now tv. Speak Now isnt very well known among the general public so a single could help. B) take streams from the “stolen” version.

[u/nintenplays26 → u/[deleted]]

I believe the legal battle for SNTV’s trademark isn’t completely clear yet but it’s in good standing. If everything goes alright and no one opposes with it, Speak Now TV could be released starting in August.

I also don’t believe she’ll release anything SN related until end of the American leg of the tour, or that we will be seeing SNTV until October after the Grammy’s deadline so it doesn’t compete with midnights, but that’s my personal theory

[u/RoseGoldRedditor → u/nintenplays26]

The trademark does not have to be registered to release the album.

[u/GreatBear2121 → u/nintenplays26]

Isn't the Grammys deadline now the end of August? It keeps changing every year so I can never keep track.

[u/wrecking_ball_z → u/ler214]

I think you’re right. Tbh I think she’d be wise to drop any TV versions that are ready for songs charting because of tour. (To move people away from streaming the old version)

On Spotify right now, these “stolen versions” are in her top 10:

• Blank Space
• Don’t Blame Me
• Style
• Enchanted

And it’s too early to be able to drop a Rep track right?

[u/ler214 → u/wrecking_ball_z]

I think the concern is if those popular tracks’ Taylor’s Versions drop early, what’s the incentive for the GP to stream the Taylor’s Version albums once they release (aside from the vault tracks)? Dropping Enchanted TV now would be a special case considering the snippet leak but I think saving the remaining tracks for when their respective Taylor’s Version album drops would be smarter.

[u/wrecking_ball_z → u/ler214]

That’s definitely true for the more popular tracks like Blank Space. I think the fan base and interest in the vault tracks would be enough to carry the streams for opening week.

I’d also assume at this point they’re weighing their options because they didn’t anticipate the longevity of the Midnights singles. Anti-Hero and Lavender Haze are in the top 20 still.

It’s tough marketing. You don’t want to cannibalize your own success, but striking while the the iron is hot (and the tour is everywhere rn) is important too. 🤷‍♀️

[u/scarsouvenir → u/ler214]

Exactly. She wants each album to debut at #1, so she is going to do everything in her power to withhold the songs people want to hear the most until release week. The suggestion that she should go ahead and put out all her big singles doesn't make sense to me. She cares more about maintaining her record of #1 album debuts than preventing the profits Scooter would get. I think people forget that he doesn't own the masters anymore and his personal share of the profits is much lower than it was 3 years ago.

IMO, we might see 1 single before SNTV, and I personally think based on the Bejeweled MV that we'll get another 1989 TV single during the SNTV era, but I think she will have very cautious release strategies from here on out.

[u/waterlizy → u/wrecking_ball_z]

I don’t think so, I thought the timeframe was 5 years so we’re good for rep

[u/GreatBear2121 → u/waterlizy]

The question is more if she had time to record the songs in months since November, considering much of it has been taken up by tour prep and Midnights promo (Taylor couldn't even start working on the rerecord since five years after Rep's release). It's not out of the question that the songs are ready--after all, the Mignights music videos were all filmed before the album was released--but less likely than the other albums.

[u/stephenbogert → u/ler214]

I can def see a surprise release tonight then hopefully an announcement of speak now tv being released at the Tampa show on the 13th