The latest weekly sales record was overtaken by Swift’s latest release, “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” which sold an impressive 693,000 copies within a week, as per Billboard’s report. Interestingly, Swift had previously held the record with “Midnights,” released in October 2022, which saw a remarkable 570,000 copies sold in the LP format.
Taylor Swift, the superstar of vinyl records, keeps outdoing herself. In just three days, she smashed her own record for the most vinyl album sales in a single week. Over the weekend, fans snatched up a whopping 700,000 copies of “The Tortured Poets Department” on LP. She’s truly unstoppable!
Want to talk about breaking records? Let’s rewind to when Harry Styles was setting the bar high. His album “Harry’s House” made waves five months before “Midnights,” selling a whopping 372,000 vinyl copies in its first week.
Now, let’s talk about the big leagues. These records we’re breaking? They’re all within what we call “the modern era,” starting in 1991 when SoundScan began meticulously tracking album sales. But hey, let’s not forget the golden age of vinyl in the ’60s, ’70s, and early ’80s. Back then, LPs were the kings of music consumption. While we didn’t have the data to confirm, it’s entirely possible some albums surpassed 700,000 vinyl copies in a week.
But here’s the kicker: In the past 33 years, nobody has even come close to Taylor Swift’s jaw-dropping LP numbers. That’s a lucrative legacy right there.
For those eagerly watching vinyl’s triumphant return as the reigning sales champion, all eyes are fixated on “Tortured Poets.” The burning question? How high will the numbers soar when the full week of sales is tallied, not just the initial three days?
But here’s where it gets really interesting. Swift’s album isn’t just benefitting from loyal fans, but from die-hard Swifties going all out. With four distinct editions, each sporting its own unique subtitle, exclusive bonus track, and mesmerizing cover art—well, let’s just say, it’s a collector’s dream come true. With each edition offering something fresh and exclusive, the anticipation is palpable. Who knew buying albums could be this thrilling?
The vinyl sales are just a slice, but a juicy one, of Swift’s expanding success story this week. According to Billboard, “The Tortured Poets Department” has already raked in a staggering 1.5 million in overall sales within the first three days alone. And get this—it’s not just about vinyl; CD, cassette, and digital download sales are all adding to the mountain of success. With LPs leading the charge, accounting for almost half of the sales, the other formats aren’t far behind, contributing a cool 800,000.
But hold onto your hats because it’s about to get even bigger. With four more days of sales and a week’s worth of streaming numbers yet to be tallied, “The Tortured Poets Department” is poised to soar past the 2 million album-equivalent units mark for the week. If it hits this milestone, it’ll be a groundbreaking achievement, the likes of which we haven’t seen since Adele’s “25” back in 2015. Talk about hitting the jackpot!