Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. She is known for narrative songs about her personal life, which have received widespread media coverage. At age 14, Swift became the youngest artist signed by the Sony/ATV Music publishing house and, at 15, she signed her first record deal.
Her 2006 eponymous debut album was the longest-charting album of the 2000s in the US. Its third single, "Our Song", made her the youngest person to single-handedly write and perform a number-one song on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Swift's second album, Fearless, was released in 2008.
Buoyed by the pop crossover success of the singles "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me", it became the US' best-selling album of 2009 and was certified diamond in the US. The album won four Grammy Awards, and Swift became the youngest Album of the Year winner.
Chris Willman Promoted to Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic
variety.comVariety Staff Follow Us on TwitterChris Willman, one of the industry’s most-respected music journalists, has been promoted to Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic for Variety.Willman is a key player in Variety‘s breaking news coverage with an emphasis on country, Americana and roots artists and well as touring and venues.
The promotion to Chief Music Critic recognizes his role in steering Variety‘s critical commentary on music and music-related media.“Having long been a fan of Chris Willman’s writing, it thrills me that Variety will continue to be his home,” said Shirley Halperin, Variety‘s Executive Editor of Music. “With this promotion, his music criticism will get the bigger spotlight it deserves.”Willman’s promotion comes as Variety is expanding its music team with the appointment of Thania Garcia as associate editor of music.
Since joining Variety in September 2018, Willman has won nine first-place awards from the Los Angeles Press Club. In 2020, the Press Club named him its Entertainment Journalist of the Year.He’s penned cover stories on Taylor Swift, Brandi Carlile, Kacey Musgraves and the “Respect” pair of Jennifer Hudson and Carole King.
As a critic and commentator, he weighs in on L.A.’s concert scene, new album releases and music-based films, along with writing columns and features, including an annual list of the year’s 50 best songs.Willman began his career as a writer for the Los Angeles Times.
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