Taylor Swift, an American country-pop singer-songwriter and the biggest-selling U.S. artist of 2008, is a role model for her thousands of teenage fans across the country. At just 19 years old, Swift's drive, independent spirit and originality offers teens a tangible reminder of the power and potential that lies within themselves - no matter what their age.
"We're thrilled that @15 is joining forces with Taylor Swift," said Brian J. Dunn, president and COO, Best Buy. "At its core, @15 is designed to empower and give teens a voice, and we believe Ms. Swift is one of the brightest, most inspiring teen voices right now."
Together with Swift, @15 developed a Teen Service Announcement (TSA) that will be played at each stop of the North American tour. In the TSA, Swift encourages teens to own their originality and appreciate their unique qualities.
"Looking back at being 15, I wouldn't have changed anything. If I had been popular, I would have been perfectly content with staying where I was," Swift says in the TSA. "In high school, it's cool to be different. And the farther away you get from middle school, junior high, the more you realize that. In the real world, if you have something about yourself that's different, you're lucky. It's not a curse."
The @15 platform strives to inspire teen-led social change at both the national and local levels. Philanthropic giving and community relations efforts have long been a cornerstone for local Best Buy stores across the country, as employees and management continually look for ways to strengthen their communities in a meaningful way. Through the @15 partnership, 15 Best Buy stores along Ms. Swift's tour stops will each donate 40 concert tickets and a guitar autographed by Ms. Swift (courtesy of Taylor Guitars) to a local, teen-focused charity of their choice. To date, ticket donations have been made to a number of charities, including The Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
