What Chart Records Could Taylor Swift Break with ‘The Life of a Showgirl’?
Taylor Swift is officially back in album mode. On last week’s episode of Travis and Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast, the superstar revealed her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, due out Oct. 3. Along with the announcement, she also dropped a few key details: the cover art, a concise 12-song tracklist (a sharp contrast to the 31-track “data dump” of The Tortured Poets Department), a guest feature from Sabrina Carpenter and the return of longtime producers/collaborators Max Martin and Shellback, who helped craft some of Swift’s biggest hits from Red, 1989 and reputation.
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The rollout marks another fascinating chapter in Swift’s career, and has left fans curious about what to expect. In the podcast, though, she said “[The album is] a lot more upbeat, and it’s a lot more fun pop excitement. My main goals were melodies that were so infectious, you’re almost angry at it.” She added that all 12 songs are “bangers” — not unlike the past hits she made with the Swedish pop masterminds, such as “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space.”
“We’ve never actually made an album before where it was just the three of us, there’s no other collaborators,” she said. “It felt like catching lightning in a bottle. These guys, they’re just geniuses. Working with them again was absolutely incredible.”
One thing we know for certain is that Swift is in for a big chart week. She’s already rewritten the Billboard record books countless times, and each new release seems to add more milestones to her résumé.
With six weeks until Showgirl arrives, here’s a look at some of the biggest chart records Swift could break — in some cases against fellow superstars, and in others, against herself.
Most No. 1 Albums on the Billboard 200 Among Solo Artists
Swift is currently tied with Drake and Jay-Z for the most No. 1 albums among solo artists with 14 No. 1s apiece, dating to the chart’s launch in March 1956. If Showgirl debuts on top, she’ll be the first solo artist to tally 15 No. 1s — unless, perhaps, Drake drops his anticipated new album Iceman before Oct. 3. The Beatles lead all acts with 19 No. 1 albums.
Most Consecutive Calendar Years at No. 1 on the Billboard 200
If Showgirl opens at No. 1, Swift will extend her run of yearly chart-toppers to seven (2019-2025), tying The Beatles for the most consecutive calendar years with a new No. 1 album. Swift has earned nine of her 14 total No. 1 albums in that span.
Largest Streaming Week for an Album
The Tortured Poets Department holds the record as the album with the largest streaming week ever, with 891.37 million on-demand official U.S. streams generated in its opening week (April 19-25, 2024). Since Showgirl is expected to have far fewer tracks (12 compared to 31), it will be much tougher to beat that record. But if anyone can outdo herself, it’s Swift.
Most Vinyl Albums Sold in a Single Week in the Modern Era
The Tortured Poets Department also set the record here, selling 859,000 vinyl copies on the chart dated May 4, 2024 — the most for an album in a single week since Luminate began tracking music sales in 1991. We know that The Life of a Showgirl is already available for preorder, and Swift announced Monday (Aug. 18) that two special vinyl variants were available in her webstore, named The Life of a Showgirl: The Shiny Bug Edition. Both versions, available for preorder for only 48 hours (or “while supplies last”), reportedly sold out in less than an hour. So we can be sure to expect another blockbuster vinyl week. The question is: can she clear that 859,000 bar?
Most Albums to Sell 1,000,000 Copies in a Single Week in the Modern Era
Since 1991, only 24 albums have sold 1 million-plus in the U.S. in a single week (in pure sales). Of those 24, Swift has the most, with seven. If Showgirl joins the club, she’ll extend her record to eight. Swift cleared the 1-million mark with, in order: Speak Now (1.046 million; Nov. 13, 2010), Red (1.208 million; Nov. 10, 2012), 1989 (1.286 million; Nov. 15, 2014), reputation (1.216 million; Dec. 2, 2017), Midnights (1.14 million; Nov. 5, 2022), 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (1.359 million; Nov. 11, 2023) and The Tortured Poets Department (1.913 million; May 4, 2024).
Only Artist to Sweep the Top 10 of the Hot 100 Three Times
Swift famously blanketed the entire top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 on Nov. 5, 2022, after releasing Midnights, and then outdid herself by claiming the entire top 14 with Tortured Poets. With Showgirl’s expected 12 tracks, she can’t claim that record, but she could become the first artist to claim the entire top 10 three times, a feat no one else has achieved even once.
Most No. 1 Songs on the Hot 100 of the 2020s
Swift and Drake have both scored seven No. 1 songs on the Hot 100 in the 2020s so far — tied for the most among all artists this decade. If a track from Showgirl tops the chart, she’ll surpass him for the most (unless, of course, Drake scores a new No. 1 before then).
Most Top 5s, Top 10s, Top 20s, Top 40s and Overall Entries on the Hot 100 Among Women
Among women, Swift already holds the records for the most top 5s (36), top 10s (59), top 20s (100), top 40s (165) and overall entries (264). Among all artists, only Drake ranks higher on these lists. But the 12 tracks from Showgirl could help her narrow the gap, or at least extend her lead among women.
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