With the 2013 Billboard Music Awards rapidly approaching, we caught up with BBMA finalist and performer Taylor Swift to help recount the incredible high points, new discoveries and memorable moments that caught her ears during the past 12 months.

Swift is the only woman to have had two albums (2012′s “Red” and 2010′s “Speak Now”) sell at least 1 million copies in a week. Her single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100. She is a finalist in 11 Billboard Music Awards categories including Top Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album (for “Red”), Top Female Artist and Top Hot 100 Artist.

Watch the 2013 Billboard Music Awards Sunday, May 19th at 8|7c on ABC live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas as host Tracy Morgan welcomes the biggest names in music to the stage.

Looking back on the past year, what was the highlight for you?

Taylor Swift: For me, the highlight of this year was that fans went out and bought more than a million copies of “Red” in its first week of release. That was such an unbelievable feeling, knowing that many people wanted to hear about the last two years of my life. When I put out an album, it’s like me releasing my version of events, the way I felt at my highest and lowest points. Sharing that with the world is a vulnerable position to put yourself in, and having it be so celebrated by my fans was almost an indescribable feeling of joy and relief and “Oh, good, they understand me.”

What song really made an impact on you this year?

I’m obsessed with “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line. It’s the catchiest thing I’ve heard in years, and I love the Nelly version too. They’re out on tour with us right now, so I get to hear it all the time. I’m also absolutely smitten with “I Love It” by Icona Pop. It’s the way reckless abandon sounds in my head. I play it right before I go onstage.

What new talent emerged or came into his or her own this year that blew you away?

Tegan & Sara have been around for years and I’ve always loved them, but I feel like they really stretched sonically on this new album, “Heartthrob.” I was just so impressed by it, and there isn’t a song on it I don’t love. So I guess, in my mind, I categorize them as the new Tegan & Sara. To see artists evolve like that is so inspiring.

What to you was one of the biggest losses this year in music?

I think losing George Jones deeply saddened everyone in Nashville. His influence on country music and his legacy will last forever. On top of all of that, he was a very sweet man and I’m so sorry we’ve lost him. George Jones never stopped wanting to be onstage. He played live shows until the day he died, and that passion for performing is something I look up to.

What was your favorite music-related meme or viral video this year?

I like the app where you can make your own memes. I make memes all the time and send them to my friends. I also love basically any cat-related YouTube video. Yes, I’m that girl. And I thought the goat video for “I Knew You Were Trouble” was brilliant—I showed it to everyone on my tour.

Was there a surprising sound or music trend that pricked up your ears?

I love that ballads became huge hits this year and that unexpected songs and artists got lots of airplay. Ed Sheeran, the Lumineers and fun. are some of my favorites right now, and they’ve all had big hits with songs that have substance and real instruments. I like it!

What music trend hurts your ears?

I don’t like to feel like I’m in a club when I’m in my car and I turn on the radio. Anything that ceases to be a song and just sounds like house music kind of stresses me out.

How do you live like a high roller when you’re in Las Vegas?

Room service. I don’t care. I love it.

Source: Billboard

Taylor attended the 2013 Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala in New York last night and looked absolutely stunning. Her hair looked great and her dress looked absolutely gorgeous. You can view the photos in our gallery.

Gallery Links:
Appearances & Events > Events from 2013 > May 6 – Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala

Gallery Links:
Paparazzi Candids > Candids from 2013 > April 28 – At the Tracy Anderson gym in Studio City, California

“Everything Has Changed” is a song recorded by American country singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, taken from her fourth studio album “Red” that was released on digital retailers on October 22, 2012 via Big Machine Records. It has the collaboration of English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran who co-write the track with Swift. The track was produced by Butch Walker. It’s confirmed as the fifth official single from the album and according Music Week website, it’s planned to release in UK on June 24.

The track is a country pop song in an acoustic style. The lyrical content finds Swift and Sheeran falling in love and finding the things round them are changing after they first met. The song has received positive reviews from music critics, who praised the song-writing and premise of the song. “Everything Has Changed” was anticipated from both critics and listeners as Swift rarely does collaborations. Without doubt, one of the songs that has more potential to function properly in the charts. This will be the singer’s second attempt to conquer the mainstream charts with a country song, after the low international success with her first try from the album with the official second single “Begin Again“.

Source: josepvinaixa.com

Taylor Swift, fun. and Maroon 5 lead the finalists for the 2013 Billboard Music Awards, which will air live on Sunday, May 19 beginning at 8/7c on ABC from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

While all three artists are finalists in a whopping 11 categories this year, Swift and Maroon 5 will also compete for the coveted Top Artist prize at this year’s ceremony. Swift is coming off of another blockbuster year in which her album “Red” notched the biggest debut sales week of any album in 2013, while Maroon 5 added more hits to its arsenal with songs like “Payphone,” “One More Night” and “Daylight.” fun., which scored its first No. 1 single with the anthem “We Are Young,” will contend in the Top Hot 100 Artist and Top Duo/Group categories, among others.

Billboard Music Awards finalists were based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital singles sales, radio airplay, touring, streaming and social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, VEVO, Spotify and other popular online destinations for music. These measurements were tracked year-round by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Entertainment and Next Big Sound.

Swift, Bieber, Bruno Mars and Miguel are all set to take the stage at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards, which will be hosted by Tracy Morgan and executive produced by Don Mischer. Additionally during the broadcast, Billboard will honor Prince with the coveted Billboard Icon Award, and the ingenuity of this year’s hitmakers will be celebrated with the new Milestone Award, presented by Chevrolet. Fans can vote for their favorite finalist now at Billboard.com/milestone.

Stay tuned for more announcements on performers, presenters and more for the May 19 airing of the 2013 Billboard Music Awards on ABC.

Taylor’s nominations:

Top Artist
Top Billboard 200 Album for Red
Top Female Artist
Top 100 Songs Artist
Top Digital Songs Artist
Top Social Artist
Top Country Artist
Top Country Album for Red
Top Streaming Video for We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
Top Country Song for We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
Billboard Milestone Award

Source: Billboard

Gallery Links:
Concerts & Tours > ‘Red’ World Tour (2013) > April 20 – Tampa, Florida

Gallery Links:
Concerts & Tours > ‘Red’ World Tour (2013) > April 18 – Atlanta, Georgia

Gallery Links:
Concerts & Tours > ‘Red’ World Tour (2013) > April 11 – Orlando, Florida