Todd Rundgren criticizes Taylor Swift's musical legacy

Singer-songwriter Todd Rundgren has criticized Taylor Swift, claiming she represents the “apotheosis of mediocrity” and suggesting there is an argument to be made that she “ruined music.” In an interview with Vulture, Rundgren stated that if he were to create an album intended to mock a specific artist, Swift would be his target.

Rundgren attributed the current dominance of female artists in the music market to a shift in consumer spending during the 1990s. He argued that as young men shifted their spending from music to video games, record labels began targeting young women with disposable income instead.

While Rundgren praised Lady Gaga as a “real musician” due to her classical training, he criticized Swift’s technical abilities, stating she is not a great singer, songwriter, or dancer. However, he did acknowledge her influence, calling her a role model for multiple generations of women. Swift has previously noted that she enjoys responding to critics using complex vocabulary.