Taylor Swift’s latest album, titled “The Tortured Poets Department,” smashes records

Well before the official release of “The Tortured Poets Department,” Taylor Swift aimed for an incredibly grand release week. The pop sensation delighted fans by unveiling 31 new songs, rather than the initially confirmed 16 main tracks and four bonus tracks, all within a span of two hours on April 19.

For approximately two years prior to its release, Taylor Swift had been meticulously crafting the expansive project, produced by Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner. She revealed to fans during a February Eras Tour performance that she had been working on it since submitting her Billboard 200-topping album, “Midnights,” to her label sometime in 2022. The continuous news coverage of her breakups with longtime boyfriend Joe Alwyn and The 1975’s Matty Healy, alongside her burgeoning relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, only intensified the hype surrounding “Tortured Poets.” Swift fueled this anticipation further at another Eras concert, stating, “I’ve never had an album where I needed songwriting more.”

On April 19, Taylor Swift’s unmatched lyricism, thought-provoking songwriting, and apparent references to her notable relationships captivated millions of listeners. The 14-time Grammy winner shattered records across various platforms, including streaming, sales, and vinyl, long before “Tortured Poets” even debuted on the Billboard charts. According to Luminate, the album sold a staggering 1.4 million copies on its first day alone, setting a new benchmark and challenging her peers in multiple arenas.

Even before the official release of “Tortured Poets,” its countdown page on Spotify made history by breaking the streaming service’s record for the most pre-saves ever. The countdown commenced on March 28, two weeks prior to the album’s release, inviting Swifties to eagerly watch as each second ticked down.

Additionally, Spotify regularly updated the tab with links to the pop star’s merchandise and shared cryptic videos of Swift typing out lyrics from the album with a typewriter, further fueling anticipation and excitement among fans.