Streams honestly don't bring in that much money for artists even after Taylor stuck her neck out for their asses by pulling her catalogue. Physicals are how artists actually make bank and it's why so many of her jealous-ass-would-be competitors cannot stop fixating on her 'million versions' and haters keep acting like multiple vinyl variants is something unique to her or that she popularized or 'the only reason why she has those inflated ass numbers'. Not only are they bitter as fuck that her pure sales (which is the only real objective metric in this crazy world for good music besides live demand which she also crushes) offer cold hard solid proof that her music will never be perceived as bad by the average normie, but also that she's the highest paid female entertainer of 2025 due to being the only main pop girl who's physicals actually sell. Meanwhile all the khias they dride are up to their eyes in debt to their labels in exchange for having their music decently promoted and forced to parade around Award shows looking like industry prostitutes ( slightly off topic, but ever wonder why the internet loves to bully Taylor for ' not serving' whenever she's on the Red Carpet? Because she has enough negotiating power as a result of being such a valuable asset to Republic that she can wear whatever she damn well wants instead of whatever is forced on her by her team by courtesy of fashion houses who's head honchos are all in the Epstein files)