Todd Rundgren Says Taylor Swift "Ruined Music" and Calls Her the "Apotheosis of Mediocrity"

Todd Rundgren has never been shy about sharing an opinion, and this week he aimed straight at the biggest star in pop. In a new Vulture interview, the producer behind Meat Loaf’s“Bat Out of Hell”said there’s“an argument to be made”that Taylor Swift“ruined music,”calling her the“apotheosis of mediocrity”and claiming she isn’t a great singer, songwriter, or dancer. He also said she“doesn’t do anything particularly great except grow hair.”Rundgren did praise Lady Gaga as a“real musician,”and floated a theory that female artists dominate pop today because’90s boys spent their money on video games instead of records.

Swift hasn’t fired back directly, though she’s previously said she’s“not the art police”when it comes to criticism. She’s also been busy: her expanded release“The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore”arrived with four new tracks, and the video for lead single“Patient Zero,”which she directed and which stars Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell, premieres at the MTV VMAs on September 27.

So it’s the classic setup: a veteran artist takes a swing at a modern superstar, and the internet does what the internet does. Is Rundgren offering a real critique of mainstream music, or is this just a generational gap with a microphone? Either way, Swift’s release schedule isn’t slowing down for anybody.

What do you think: did Taylor Swift ruin music, or is Todd Rundgren just mad he’s not on the charts? Sound off in the comments.