Did Taylor Swift's female collaborations change the music industry?

While her vocals and songwriting skills are equally to credit for her success, the boost in her popularity post her stint with Taylor, cannot be ignored.

How opening Taylor Swift’s concerts helped female musicians

Sabrina wasn’t the only artist that went from indie to mainstream after opening Taylor’s shows. Gracie Abrams was another. Not only did she open several of Taylor’s shows, but also collaborated with her on a song.

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HAIM, Paramore, Gayle, Phoebe Bridgers, Suki Waterhouse, and RAYE were some other names that also opened for Taylor, and saw mainstream recognition post that. Even before that, Camilla Cabello and Charli XCX were Taylor's opening acts on her 'Reputation Stadium Tour.'

From Rose to Camilla Cabello, how Taylor Swift advised fellow musicians

Known for supporting and encouraging her peers, Taylor doesn't just win awards for herself. She has made a name for herself as a girl’s girl. Whether it’s providing financial assistance to Ke$ha amid her legal battle with Dr. Luke or supporting Selena Gomez amid public bullying, Taylor is a lesson in supporting others.

Taylor’s words of wisdom to Rosé

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Be it deepfake videos or naysayers, Taylor Swift has a lot of industry experience. BLACKPINK’s Rosé spoke to i-D on how Taylor advised her before the launch of her solo album: “She gave me her experiences and was so ready to help me. She gave me her number... Who does that? Like, you’re Taylor Swift!” adding, “She was trying to protect me. Me becoming solo, being independent, it’s not an easy thing. There are a lot of things I should be careful with, and she gave me a rundown on all the things I have to look out for. That was the coolest part – she’s killed it in the game, and she was kind enough to walk me through.”

Did Camilla Cabello exit Fifth Harmony because of Taylor Swift?

While Camilla Cabello has vehemently denied that she pursued a solo career because Taylor advised her to, she said Taylor helped her deal with the split from the group. Taylor recommended that Camilla “just write it out,” to process the break.

The rise of female collaborations in the music industry

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Back in the day, it was an anomaly to see collaborations between top female musicians. When Christina Aguilera dropped 'Lady Marmalade' with Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink, it was a huge deal because of how rare it was. Madonna doing ‘Me Against the Music’ with Britney Spears was another major moment. Today, such collaborations are commonplace, not an exception.

The top female stars who love collaborating with other women

Stars like Lisa, Shakira, Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Charli XCX and more, have made collaborations with fellow female popstars more and more mainstream.

• Just one album old as a solo artist, Lisa has already collaborated with Rosalia, Doja Cat, RAYE, Tyla, and Megan Thee Stallion.

• Shakira has done songs with Rihanna, Beyoncé, Cardi B and performed at the Super Bowl half-time show with Jennifer Lopez.

• Miley Cyrus has done songs with Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, Dolly Parton, Lana Del Rey, and Stevie Nicks, to name a few.

• Cardi B has worked with Selena Gomez, Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, GloRilla, Lizzo, Shakira, Normani, Rita Ora, Bebe Rexha, and many more.

• Nicki Minaj has worked with Ice Spice, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Jessie J, Little Mix, and Rihanna, among others.

• Charli XCX has collaborated with Lorde, Billie Eilish, Addison Rae, Bebe Rexha, Rita Ora, Iggy Azalea, Tove Lo, and many others.

Why women collaborating with women is a rising trend

Billboard reported that female collaborations are increasingly making it to the Hot 100 lists. According to Billboard, in the 62 years prior to 2020, only five all-female collaborations had made it to the top spot on the charts. By contrast, 2020 saw a whopping four songs rule the charts in the same year.

Now, the number has only grown. Whether it’s provocative lyrics expressing female desire, or feminist anthems, Billboard suggested that these all-women collaborations represent the audience’s desire to hear the female voice, literally and figuratively.

In an industry that is still male-dominated at the executive level, are women working together to slowly dismantle the powers that be? That’s the question when it comes to Taylor Swift, who has taken matters into her own hands by fighting for ownership of her work, and encouraging other women to safeguard their work as well.

Taylor Swift songs that feature other female musicians

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There is a long list of the Taylor Swift tracks featuring other female musicians. One look at it speaks volumes about the change the music industry is experiencing.

• ‘Breathe’ featuring Colbie Caillat from the album Fearless

• ‘You All Over Me’ featuring Maren Morris from the album Fearless

• ‘Castles Crumbling’ featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore from the album Speak Now (Taylor's Version)

• ‘Nothing New’ featuring Phoebe Bridgers from the album Red (Taylor's Version)

• "Soon You'll Get Better" (featuring the Chicks) from the album Lover

• ‘No Body, No Crime’ (featuring Haim) from the album Evermore

• "Snow on the Beach" (featuring Lana Del Rey) from the album Midnights

• "Karma" (featuring Ice Spice) from the album, Midnights

• "Florida!!!" (featuring Florence and the Machine) from the album, The Tortured Poets Department

• ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ featuring Sabrina Carpenter from the album, The Life of a Showgirl

In addition to that, Taylor has also worked with female musicians for songs featured in their albums, such as Sugarland’s ‘Babe’, Haim’s ‘Gasoline (Remix)’, and Gracie Abrams’ ‘Us’.

Does this indicate that Taylor is part of the reason the music industry is changing, or would female collaborations have exploded in this manner regardless of Taylor’s influence?