Just How Powerful Is Taylor Swift, Anyway?

$700 billion: That’s the net worth of Apple.

Taylor Swift managed to make a $700 billion multinational corporation bend at its knees with a Tumblr post.

"I find it to be shocking, disappointing and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company," Swift wrote on Tumblr regarding Apple Music’s decision to not pay royalties to artists during the free trial period of their new streaming service.

"These are not the complaints of a spoiled, petulant child. These are the echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much," Swift stated.

Taylor had spoken... and Apple listened, with execs immediately responding to her open letter. Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice-president of Internet software and services, answered Taylor's post quickly by expressing a change of course for the company.

It makes you wonder: just how powerful is T-Swizzle? And how did she become a force to be reckoned with?

Beyond her music and ridiculously adorable felines, Taylor Swift is fiercely independent and an intelligent businesswoman. Like a skilled marketing mogul, Swift flawlessly transitioned from teen country idol into pop sensation using the album 1989 as a platform, shaking off the haters in the process.

Her stringent control of her artistry and independence allows her to fight for artistic integrity rather than heeding to the might of large corporations. It seems to work, as records were squashed in 2014 when Swift’s fifth album 1989 enjoyed the biggest first-week sales of any album since 2002.

Taylor speaks and the "Swifties" follow. Swift's prominence would undoubtedly be lesser if it weren't for her dedicated fan base, which she is known to constantly engage with in ways unique to the singer.

A seemingly intimate relationship with fans and a knack for (maybe calculated) kindness – like the time she helped a couple announce their pregnancy - coupled with modern technology enabled Swift to reach unprecedented audiences.

Almost 60 million Swifties are constantly in tune with T-Swizzle’s antics and have proven they are ready to defend her at any cost.

Musician Diplo is well aware of the repercussions after a tweet about Taylor's "booty" resulted in threats from her fans. He told GQ, "The repercussions are really bad. Like, Taylor Swift fans are really crazy. They threatened to murder me and stuff. It's really bizarre."

It seems Taylor Swift is untouchable, at least from critics, thanks to the protection of her diehard fans.

A F-E-M-I-N-I-S-T and proud of it, Taylor isn't afraid to voice her opinions on politics and to aid the women's rights movement, despite social issues being delicate areas for many artists who fear the backlash.

Friends with loud, socially aware voices and an equally impressive sense for social justice – like activist and Girls writer Lena Dunham - have made Taylor a global feminism figure. Not even US Senators can escape her power. Retiring Iowa Senator Tom Harkin ignited controversy after comments about Republican candidate Joni Ernst, "I don’t care if she’s as good-looking as Taylor Swift."

From serenading Romeo with a country ballad to influencing mega corporations, Taylor Swift has joined the ranks of the world most influential people, thanks to business - and social - savvy, as well as a well-oiled army of fans. How can anyone compete with a woman who manages to change a $700 billion business with a Tumblr post? Which industry will she topple next?

Cassie Ngurah is one of Student Edge’s student contributors. Learn more about our contributors program.