Hegemonic Stardom: The Politics of Musical Reception in Kanye West and Taylor Swift

This paper examines the hegemonic role of popular music stars under conditions of political polarization within minor politics, such as everyday and parliamentary politics, and its influence on musical reception. The paper focuses on the political stances of Kanye West and Taylor Swift in the United States following Donald Trump’s 2016 election. It uses a qualitative methodology based on comparative case study and media analysis. The empirical material covers the period from the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign to 2025 and includes interviews, political statements, social media posts, news reports, academic publications, and selected songs and lyrics. The materials were interpreted through discourse and textual analysis, drawing on Gramsci’s theory of hegemony, the concept of the traditional intellectual, and Dyer’s theory of stardom. The paper’s findings show that the reception of popular music is not only a matter of aesthetic factors but also of social and political processes. For example, West’s support for Trump, his antisemitic remarks, and his provocative engagement with Nazism diminished the audience’s attachment to the star, resulting in a loss of meaning and pleasure. By contrast, Swift’s anti-Trump, liberal, and feminist political stance, which resonated with her audience’s values, facilitated a favorable reception of her music. In conclusion, this paper suggests that, under conditions of political polarization, popular music stars can act hegemonically, influencing musical reception either in positive or negative ways.