Let me try to respond to 63 different posts in one go...
Taylor’s trajectory should not be used as a guide for Adele. Taylor evolved extremely well with Red, made her best album with her most enjoyable, aesthetically appealing, well-promoted era. And then she got to the Grammys and lost in every single category. Instead of accepting the loss, maintaining her integrity and trying to build on what she’d created, she gave up, went complete pop as a mission for commercial success. Weaker lyrics, overtly sexualized image, almost unbearable persona. The old package provided a niche that could last, this one won't. The fact that a bad Grammys year could cause such a change speaks poorly of her motivations, but the fact that the Grammys ignored Red and then rewarded her for all that 1989 was and meant is the bigger abomination.
I agree with CC in that Adele wants to win AOTY. She may love Beyoncé as a fan, but at the end of the day she is not going to throw a single thing she’s worked for away to support her. Her just recently not risking going to the Formation Tour to ensure that she’d be 100% on her game for her own shows is evidence of that. I also agree in that I hope what the Sony contract ensures is tours and well-promoted singles. Musically, as has been said by Mike, she needs to evolve from being the singer of sad songs, and she needs to keep it 21-level organic - for her, that's an even stronger commercial move than pop. Maybe losing AOTY would make her realize that, but it needs to be realized even if she wins.