I've been meaning to read that piece on Vidal and just hadn't gotten that far yet - but the idea that the artist is primarily a commodity is a problematic one indeed. Although Swift seems to be doing pretty well on that front too, I'd say. She's one of the most savvy businesswomen there is, and has the income to prove it. This is in large part because she engages a lot more with her fans than with the demands of the music industry.