Tay-Day: Hundreds to Attend University of Liverpool Conference on Taylor Swift
Organisers say over 600 tickets have been sold
With just a day to go until Taylor Swift kicks off the Liverpool leg of her world-famous Eras Tour, the University of Liverpool is hosting a special conference dedicated to the global megastar.
‘Tay-Day,’ inspired by ‘Bey-Day’—a similar conference set up by Dr. Samuel Murray focused on Beyoncé—is set to attract over 600 attendees.
Hosted by the University’s Institute of Popular Music, the full-day event will see scholars and students share their work on Taylor Swift, including a workshop on the process of writing a Taylor Swift musical.
There will also be a series of interactive talks from academics across Europe on subjects such as the Taylor Swift millipede, her vinyl records, and her role in feminism and the LGBTQ+ community.
The day will culminate in a session of ‘Critical Karaoke,’ where researchers perform one-song essays on their chosen Taylor Swift track.
"A lot of that has to do with the fact that it’s in Liverpool."
Dr. Samuel Murray shared his thoughts: “Right now, Taylor is the biggest artist in the world.
“She’s the first artist to gross over a billion dollars on tour, and her impact is incredibly far-reaching.
“We wanted to create an opportunity to unpack and understand Taylor Swift as a cultural phenomenon by inviting people from various disciplines and different stages in their academic careers.”
Originally, Dr. Murray and his colleague Dr. Amy Skjerseth expected only a few dozen attendees, but over 600 tickets have now been sold.
Sam continued: “I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that it’s in Liverpool.
“It’s important to highlight that Liverpool knows how to put on major events now.
“We’ve spoken to many people who recall the amazing atmosphere during Eurovision.
“I think people want to learn not only about Taylor Swift but also about her connection to Liverpool.”
Amy added: “We’re really keen on the university being a community; we don’t write in a vacuum. We write about and for our communities.
“As scholars of popular music, Sam and I are passionate about involving audiences, fans, and critics. That’s why we’ve organized this conference—to bring everyone together and share our diverse knowledge about Taylor Swift. Because, wow, that knowledge runs deep.”