Taylor Swift has shattered records with the release of her album “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”
Not only has it debuted at No. 1, boasting the biggest opening numbers of the year, but it also marks a significant achievement for Swift as she becomes the first woman in six decades to have four albums simultaneously in the top 10 of the album chart. Additionally, Swift now holds the title for the female artist with the most No. 1 albums in history, surpassing Barbra Streisand, with a total of twelve chart-toppers.
Unprecedented Chart Success:
“Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” debuted atop the Billboard 200, amassing an impressive 716,000 album-equivalent units. This remarkable feat easily surpassed the previous best figure held by Morgan Wallen’s “One Thing at a Time” (501,000) released in March. Swift’s other albums contributing to this extraordinary achievement are “Midnights” (2022) at No. 5, “Lover” (2019) at No. 7, and “Folklore” (2020) at No. 10.
Elite Company:
In achieving four simultaneous top 10 albums, Taylor Swift joins an exclusive club. Only two other artists, Herb Alpert, and Prince, have accomplished this feat. Alpert, the last living person to achieve this milestone, did so in 1966, while Prince achieved it posthumously in 2016. No artist has achieved this since the chart’s inception in 1963.
Record-Breaking Debut and Vinyl Sales:
“Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” also set a record for the largest opening number among Swift’s re-recordings. Her previous release, “Red (Taylor’s Version),” debuted with 605,000 units in late 2021, followed by “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” with 291,000 units in early 2021. Notably, “Speak Now” saw substantial sales, with 507,000 copies sold in its first week, including a remarkable 268,500 vinyl sales. This week stands as the second-best for vinyl album sales since 1991, only surpassed by Swift’s own “Midnights,” which sold 575,000 vinyl copies in its opening week.
Taylor Swift’s latest achievement in dominating the album charts with four simultaneous top 10 albums is unprecedented and solidifies her status as a musical powerhouse. Her record-breaking debut, along with the success of her re-recordings, demonstrates her enduring popularity and ability to captivate audiences.
With each release, Swift continues to redefine chart success and leave an indelible mark on the music industry.