Saving Taylor Swift

Image via Wikipedia

"I took a chance, I took a shot
And you might think I'm bulletproof, but I'm not"

Silence. It's always worst in a crisis. Just ask Tiger Woods.

Johnson & Johnson wrote the book on this, with Tylenol. Remember the capsules with cyanide? No? Proves the point. J&J admitted fault, even though the company was not responsible, executed a fix and life went on.

It's a veritable conflagration. Not only online. But in the mainstream news.

The "New York Times" took a swing at Taylor Swift, they said her singing was "painfully out of tune".

In an article on the Oscars, Patrick Goldstein of the "Los Angeles Times" excoriated her: "Even though Swift was the big winner Sunday night, she has largely been derided by critics and is viewed as a youthful enthusiasm, not a serious artist. (If you watched the show, you may have noticed that while she has lovely hair, she can barely sing.)"

The non-music outlet known as MTV is riding Swift's performance to ratings just like the channel rode the derided "Jersey Shore" controversy. Even taking the unprecedented action of printing blowback from haters: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631150/20100203/swift__taylor.jhtml

And what do we get from Taylor Swift's camp? She's in Australia. Scott Borchetta bit back lamely once, and then was indignant in the "Tennessean": http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010/02/01/taylor-swift-has-mixed-reviews-from-grammy-night/

"You could write a book on how
To ruin someone's perfect day"

This is all wrong. You don't bite back this way, you're contrite, go on the offensive by endearing yourself to consumers.

Taylor Swift should not be hiding Down Under, she should jet back to the U.S., do "Oprah", reveal secrets, do a town hall... You know major news outlets are interested, because this is a major story. Except maybe to those in the eye of the hurricane, where the calm does not reflect the winds outside.

Scott Swift, Taylor's dad, I know you're reading this. You're a smart guy. I know you're protective of your daughter, I know you believe in her, why don't you help her?

Call Larry Solters. Call another crisis publicity agent. To manage the story. Because I'd say you've lost control of it, no, I'd say you never had a hold on it, and it's time you did.

Everything's got to come out. Honesty is the best policy in a crisis. We're a forgiving country. Tell the backstory, the true story, of how Scott spent so much to make Taylor happen. Not as a tale of millions spent, but as a father doing everything to make his daughter's dream come true. Release video of Taylor singing at twelve. Show the arc of her development. Make the Grammy appearance part of her development. Instead of the end of the story...

This is serious business. Just look at John Edwards. The aforementioned Tiger Woods. There are people who specialize in handling these crises. Hire one. Because the team in control of Taylor Swift's image is woefully overmatched. I wouldn't call it a public relations offensive but an explanation, a bringing of the public into Taylor Swift's heart. Don't throw stones at your enemies, hug them tight, by admitting your faults and showing that you're reasonable, and dedicated to solving the problem.

"I take a step back, let you go
I told you I'm not bulletproof
Now you know"

I'm sure Taylor's hurt. Hell, if she's this upset about a boy in "Tell Me Why", imagine what it's like breaking up with your career?

And when you get dumped, your friends rally 'round. They'll rally 'round Taylor if she cries, tells how she tried, dedicates herself to doing better in the future and allows the public to embrace her.

"Tell Me Why": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOxidzqhUwA