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To Apple, Love Taylor

I write this to explain why I’ll be holding back my album, 1989, from the new streaming service, Apple Music. I feel this deserves an explanation because Apple has been and will continue to be one of my best partners in selling music and creating ways for me to connect with my fans. I respect the company and the truly ingenious minds that have created a legacy based on innovation and pushing the right boundaries.

I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company. This is not about me. Thankfully I am on my fifth album and can support myself, my band, crew, and entire management team by playing live shows. This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success. This is about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt. This is about the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field…but will not get paid for a quarter of a year’s worth of plays on his or her songs.

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. We simply do not respect this particular call.

I realize that Apple is working towards a goal of paid streaming. I think that is beautiful progress. We know how astronomically successful Apple has been and we know that this incredible company has the money to pay artists, writers and producers for the 3 month trial period… even if it is free for the fans trying it out.

Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing. I say this with love, reverence, and admiration for everything else Apple has done. I hope that soon I can join them in the progression towards a streaming model that seems fair to those who create this music. I think this could be the platform that gets it right.

But I say to Apple with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.

Taylor

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Be with a guy who still opens the car door for you even when he’s mad at you.

(via yball)

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*sticks cold feet under dog*

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Q: My Panhellenic council is trying to find a good alternate for Greek Skit during our greek week do you have any suggestions or ideas?

A: Instead of a skit, consider one of these alternate ideas ~

☆ Popular Greek Week Activities: ☆

Greek Sing: Each chapter, or group of...

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reblog and make a wish! this was removed from tumbrl due to “violating one or more of Tumblr’s Community Guidelines”, but since my wish came true the first time, I’m putting it back. :)

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Hey OK so I have just a few questions. So I'm still a junior in high school but I'm pretty sure that I want to join a sorority in the future, possibly at a Big 10 school. None of the women in my family have been in a sorority so I'm not really sure what to look for or expect. I was just wondering what to look for when rushing and what houses look for in recruits. Sorry this is so long and thanks for your help!

I’m so glad you wrote in! You are the perfect age to start thinking about what you want to do in college.

Preparing for rush WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL (what sororities are looking for in you):

Be active! Join clubs, run for office, play sports, paint pictures, whatever you like, do it with passion. Sororities like girls who are engaged in life.

Keep your grades up ~ there are minimum requirements in all chapters.

Volunteer ~ giving back is very important to greeks, start being charitable now.

Keep your reputation clean on instagram, tumblr & facebook. Sororities, colleges and future employers do check. And after you join you could be asked to leave if there is offensive stuff on your blog.

Practice your social skills, manners and grammar. Rush involves lots of small talk, and you need to be able to effectively “sell yourself”. You can’t be a total wallflower. 

You don’t need to have family in a sorority, but you will need some recommendations from alum sorority women when the time comes. So now is the time for you to explore which teachers, other parents, or family friends might be able to write letters on your behalf. 

At a big 10 school, there will be sorority competition, so experience in leadership is also important. If you can still run for office on campus, at church, or in one of your clubs - do it for senior year!

What to LOOK FOR IN A SORORITY: 

When your college is confirmed, please visit all the chapter web sites and learn about each one. Preparation will make you less nervous. Then after your research, keep an open mind.

Look for girls with character, sincerity, honesty, friendliness and a house where you feel the most comfortable. You will know it when you “feel” it. 

Try to not be swayed by who has the fanciest dresses, most glamourous sorority house, most expensive rush decorations ~ those are all superficial. Look beyond the sparkle and really assess the girls you meet. (and at the same time they are assessing you!)

Look for unity, real sisterhood and high ideals. Do the girls live their creed? Do they get good grades or just party all the time? When you see their “bragging” table displays and hear their “recruitment pitches” really pay attention to what they value most. Each house is different!

You will be 100% fine ~ thousands of girls go through it each year! Just go with the flow, be upbeat and don’t let the inevitable “not asked back” rejections get you down. In the end every girl says yes to just one house. One invite to join is all you need to start your 4 years of college greek life.  MUCH LUCK!!

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i’m that girl who wants to wear an elegant gown and go to parties in heels and be social and be loud in a big sparkly city.

i’m also that girl who wants to wear plain soft tshirts and be barefoot all day and drink iced coffee from a mason jar and snuggle with her dogs and quietly fall in love somewhere on the countryside. 

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do you ever look at a boy’s hands and just nod to yourself

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Thoughts on Lilly Pulitzer x Target?

I think Lilly Pulitzer would be rolling in her grave if she found out that the company that once dressed Jackie Kennedy is now selling women’s “panties” and plastic homeware via Target.  

*Queue deluge of angry questions*

-Dean 

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