TAYLOR SWIFT

Taylor Swift might seem to be an unlikely-looking buccaneer, but she is a pirate through and through. Rejecting the obvious record-industry route, Taylor is signed to a small-town label where she retains complete control of her career.

With no industry machine to back her, she’s nevertheless amassed the clout to stand up to Apple and Spotify, and bring them both to heel. Her storytelling through song, content, social media and well-orchestrated gossip, vendettas and ‘feuds’ with everyone from Kanye West to Katy Perry means she’s routinely named on social media amongst the world’s most powerful figures.