SwiftSoc and it’s the same but it’s SwiftPop so it’s not

Warwick’s Taylor Swift Society is one of the most well-known music societies on campus, regularly holding listening parties for new Taylor Swift albums and running other events tailored to fans of the superstar’s discography. I never thought a society of self-proclaimed superfans would migrate away from Swift, yet the election of 26-27 President Tom Baker, alongside his new exec, led to a revision.  As of August 2026, SwiftSoc was no more, the society rebranding to SwiftPop (or, more formally, Warwick Taylor Swift and Pop Music Society). 

It felt like the right way forward to keep some remnants of Taylor Swift in the society

Tom Baker

Baker told me how “over the year, [Swift] hasn’t been as popular”, recalling how some other universities’ Taylor Swift Societies (including that of the University of Nottingham) were forced to disband this year due to a lack of interest. Given that Warwick’s SwiftSoc is “one of the biggest in the UK”, Baker didn’t want to have to make such a difficult decision on our campus, the community being so “kind and welcoming”. As such, “it felt like the right way forward for [Baker] to keep some remnants of Taylor Swift in the society”, whilst also broadening the society to guarantee its longevity. 

Throughout the 25-26 academic year, the society ran innumerable events, lots relating to Swift’s career and discography (for example, the TS12 listening party in Welcome Week, and a watch party in January for The Eras Tour: The Final Show), but many totally unrelated to their idol’s work. During the sensational first season of Celebrity Traitors, the society ran events encapsulating the mystery and betrayal of the show: they also held events focused on other artists, such as Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo. Baker explained how the society “wanted to reflect the fact that we were doing that” – the name change isn’t about spotlighting other artists in particular, but about spotlighting SwiftPop and the diversity they sponsor: “we were always a bit more than a SwiftSoc”.  

If 75% of the music played is other artists, more people will come and enjoy it

Tom Baker

So, how will this manifest for the impending academic year? Whereas SwiftSoc’s big events were totally Swift-oriented, such as their Wonderland Ball which saw only Swift’s music played, bigger events for 26-27 will see far greater diversity. Following a trial event – Afterglow – in Term 3 last year, where the society met at T-Bar on campus and listened to a much broader playlist, SwiftPop are launching a new event this year – 360: a “brat theme” spotlighting a range of pop artists: “if 75% of the music played is other artists, more people will come and enjoy it”. Nonetheless, smaller events will still centre on individual artists and pop-culture interests, there remaining something for everybody in SwiftPop. 

As 25-26 Social Secretaries, Baker and Liv Brown laid the foundations for SwiftPop, working to improve inclusion and push the society’s boundaries – “we’ve built a nice community, and going into next year we can only improve”. Aušra Holbrook, 26-27 Events Coordinator, expanded: “[SwiftPop] is one of those societies where you don’t have to go to every event to feel like you belong: you can just come along.” As well as balancing Swift with other artists, the society expertly balances sober and non-sober socials, “not discouraging anyone”, there being “lots of variation in the events [they] run”. 

SwiftPop is for every artist, but – more importantly – it is for everyone

My conversation with Baker concluded with a comment which I believe is the key takeaway heading into the launch of SwiftPop: “My friends who aren’t huge Taylor fans have had a great time – they didn’t have to do a quiz to prove their Taylor Swift knowledge. They felt accepted, and I hope other people will have that experience too.” SwiftPop is for every artist, but – more importantly – it is for everyone.