base talk Many Artists Release Multiple Album Covers, But Only Taylor Gets Dragged. Why?

[wehavetostan]

Upon the release of her 10th studio album Midnights, Taylor Swift has been criticized by some for having multiple artworks. There are 5 different covers available for physical purchase (the standard edition, the 3 others, and the Target edition). Similar criticism was also levelled at Taylor during the release of folklore, which had 9 different artworks (8 only available during the release week). However, she is certainly not the only artist releasing multiple covers. Pop stars and former peers like Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Demi Lovato have also released different covers for their albums (see below), but none of the artists received even half the scrutiny for the covers. It's worth noting that the first week sales of Midnights alone will outsell the first week sales of these albums combined.

 

[VOSS]

Her fans say she’s the biggest artist in the world she shouldn’t need to use such gimmicks

[Monster Queen]

The biggest difference between them is Taylor's fan actually buy them, so this is all her fault

Edited October 22, 2022 by Monster Queen

[James_Dean]

There's nothing wrong with having variants. 

 

The problem, for me personally, is that she falsely advertised the "limited" alternate variants as "available for 1 week" or whatever, then extended their availability for another week, THEN they were revealed to be widely available at all retailers that sell records.... so nothing was actually limited 

 

Then she started doing the same thing with the signed copies... I mean, yeah they're gonna sell, but the fact of the matter is she manipulated her fans into panic buying everything because she is THAT desperate for that sales record. Period.  

[JennyWayne]

Because even though a lot of other artists try the same fraudulent tactics, Taylor achieves the most success thanks to it  

It's the exact same reason why only Gaga gets dragged for the 99-cent deal with Target during BTW even though other artists (like Rihanna with Rated R) did the exact same thing

[Watson!]

lets not forget that some of these were promoted as limited edition when they are probably million of copies. 

 

[Jotham]

This weird deflection that Swifties are using to defend Taylor's business tactics.

 

The problem isn't just multiple album covers, Taylor's team had been misleading her stans for weeks leading to the release of the album. She first promised a moonstone variant, then released three alternate variants for a LIMITED time on her website, only to have those variants released in other stores as well. Then, after their "limited" release, she started selling "hand-signed" versions of the same variants to milk even more money from customers (it's largely debatable whether or not they're even hand-signed but I digress). Then there's also the CD versions and how she restricted some songs to one CD version that she could've easily made available on vinyl. They're all clearly just ploys to boost album sales. And lbr we're probably going to have even more variants given that the 3am songs aren't on vinyl yet.

 

Also, having multiple vinyl variants is a lot more problematic than having multiple CD variants given how much more pressure vinyl releases have on pressing plants and the environment. It's been difficult for a lot of smaller artists to release their albums on vinyl on time because artists like Taylor have overwhelmed pressing plants with their own releases.

[GentleEarthquake]

it's not about the amount of alternative covers, it's about the gimmicks and tactics she does using them

[Rotunda]

Ngl the only people I’ve seen legitimately criticize it are people from her own fanbase - and I think it’s because of the way the rollout is being handled.

Edited October 22, 2022 by Rotunda

[Hunter_13]

Because she actually sells them. Like 5SOS and Brendon Urie both had over 10 vinyl variants and why? Maggie Roggers and Rina had multiple too. I guess Taylor's issue is saying limited but then extending but that's probably cause she has insane demand so obviously her and republic records are gonna cash in. 

[Selenasworld]

Swifties are not getting all the hate they gave to Adele so I don't know how they're complaining they're dumb 

Edited October 22, 2022 by Selenasworld

[vasymollo]

1 hour ago, Jotham said:

This weird deflection that Swifties are using to defend Taylor's business tactics.

 

The problem isn't just multiple album covers

 

1 hour ago, James_Dean said:

There's nothing wrong with having variants. 

actually most of the ppl dragging her on sm are using the variants as the excuse, not the sales gimmicks she employed to sell them. but i do agree that if we're to nitpick her over anything, it was the "limited" release stuff. totally unnecessary and her fans would've bought it anyway. 

[shookspeare]

only answer is that they actually sell unlike their faves' albums that rot on shelves. there really isn't anything else you could drag taylor for

[Nova_23]

 

im a big fan of hers but i didn’t go rushing to buy any of the midnights variants when they were originally released because i knew they wouldn’t be limited edition. like when has this woman sold anything limited addition?  BUT that’s not to say that there isnt technically a limit to how many vinyls for example are actually available given how long it takes to produce them. That *limit* isn’t in the thousands though and if you’re buying it thinking that then you’re delusional 

 

Also if you feel duped by her then by all

means return the product or stop supporting her. 

 

OT: it’s because she’s actually successful and is able to sell physical albums whereas the other artists mentioned in the OP can’t. 

[Rep2000]

Because her haters have nothing left to drag about. So they had no choice but to repeat and parrot this talking point ad nauseam and chose to forget how to count like Benjamin Buttons going through puberty to toddlery. Poor that.

[Freakshowvato]

3 hours ago, wehavetostan said:

The serve of these album covers tho! I think it depends on the aesthetic and if it makes sense. In Demi's case, it was different colors since the album was a dreamy and colorful project. Demi's last album HOLY **** didn't even have a deluxe version.

 

I think Taylor's constant different versions of BOTH singles and albums are a bit excessive time after time again, but she knows her fans mass buy albums and she's hungry for sales. Midnights would've been cute with a different 3AM edition cover, but some of these alternative covers don't really add anything to the aesthetic.

 

I don't think she should be dragged necessarily for the different versions, bc it's nothing harmful. But it can DEFINITELY be taken into account when looking at her incredible figures or 1M+ sales, because it helps explain it.

[LosingHimWasBlue]

The funny thing is Liddos, Arianators, and some Taylor’s second fandom drag her for doing many variant cover, when their fave doing the same thing, but sadly no one bought it 

 

Not even 1/4 of Taylor sales.  

[Freakshowvato]

It'

Just now, LosingHimWasBlue said:

The funny thing is Liddos, Arianators, and some Taylor’s second fandom drag her for doing many variant cover, when their fave doing the same thing, but sadly no one bought it 

 

Not even 1/4 of Taylor sales.  

Who said no one bought it? Just because an album doesn't sell 600K copies first week does not mean no one bought it, hardcore fans bought these albums, even if it's just a few tens of thousands of copies in pure sales. Don't be bitter to other artists just because Taylor is extremely successful to an unparalleled level.

[Jude]

Simple. They're envious of her success.

[Alldeezy]

Because she made many copies just before release just so her fans would buy every verison. Others kinda have different album cover for each platform but Taylor dropping 8 covers on vinyl.. that's why

 

 

 

[The Music Industry]

Random non-Swifties trying to convince us that we were "manipulated" into buying the variants because her web store said they were limited  as if we wouldn't have bought them anyway

[awesomepossum]

On 10/22/2022 at 6:51 PM, Jotham said:

Also, having multiple vinyl variants is a lot more problematic than having multiple CD variants given how much more pressure vinyl releases have on pressing plants and the environment. It's been difficult for a lot of smaller artists to release their albums on vinyl on time because artists like Taylor have overwhelmed pressing plants with their own releases.

If enough artists have large quantity vinyl pressings like Taylor and Adele, then the pressing plants should be able to expand their operations since they'll have increased revenue. It is good for the industry overall when an artist sells a lot of physical copies of an album, vinyl or otherwise.

Edited March 4, 2023 by awesomepossum

[awesomepossum]

She should teach a business class..

Edited March 4, 2023 by awesomepossum

[Soda Pop Queen]

I'm dead. Are all those alternative covers actually real and sanctioned by the artists?  I was not even aware of those and I highly doubt anyone who isn't a harcore completist fan is aware of any of those covers for these women either, Taylor included. Much ado about nothing. 

[Rep2000]

4 hours ago, LosingHimWasBlue said:

The funny thing is Liddos, Arianators, and some Taylor’s second fandom drag her for doing many variant cover, when their fave doing the same thing, but sadly no one bought it 

 

Not even 1/4 of Taylor sales.  

Try 1/20. In 1 day. ?