Taylor Swift has more-or-less cemented herself as the LeBron James of Nashville music. Perhaps even more dominant. Just as James has taken four of the past five NBA MVP awards, Swift has won five-straight Nashville Songwriter Association International Best Songwriter/Artist of The Year Awards.
Now, before all you "Taylor-Swift-Isn't-Actually-Country-She's-Pop" activists start complaining, understand that this award works a little differently than the MVP awards in major sports leagues. To quote the NSAI, the award "most prolific and productive Nashville writers who achieved Top 30 singles during the past year." In essence, the Nashville musician who places the most songs in the Top 30 of the charts (of their respective genre) gets the prize. In other words, no one votes but the buyers and radio listeners. In theory, Nashville residents such as Jack White could win the award, but as the Tennessee city is the capitol of country, that's the genre where the award usually lands.
Plus, Swift is just dominant.
She placed 14 separate tracks in the Top 30 of the country charts during the year between 2012 and 2013. That's a virtual greatest hits album compiled in one year. And she's been keeping a similar pace for the last six years. She tied with Alan Jackson during 2007, which is counted as her first win. 2013's victory put her over the top to break the record for most NSAI Best Songwriter awards, breaking her tie with Vince Gill and Jackson.
Like James, she'll try to make us despise her less for her success by taking part in generous charitable activity. The Taylor Swift Education Center will open this weekend at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
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