Taylor Swift’s Big Risk Paid Off
When it comes to songwriting, Taylor Swift sticks to her guns.
Swift was just 15 years old when RCA offered her a recording contract -- and she turned it down. So why did she pass up an opportunity most budding singers would kill for? Because record execs didn't want the precocious teen to write her own material.
"You don't just walk away from a big record label like that when you're an unsigned artist," Swift tells the Associated Press. "But I had a gut feeling about it, and some of the best decisions I've made in my career have been based on solely gut feelings and my instinct."
Those instincts paid off. A year later, Swift signed with the independent Big Machine Records, releasing a debut album of songs all written or co-written by her. To date, that CD has sold more than 4 million copies.
Look for Swift to help ring in the new year tomorrow on the ABC television special, 'Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.'
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