Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' Tops UK Charts, Ties Madonna Record

Taylor Swift's latest album 'The Tortured Poets Department' has topped the UK charts, selling an impressive 270,000 units in its first week. This marks the biggest opening week for an album in the UK since Ed Sheeran's 'Divide' in 2017. With her 12th number one album, Swift ties Madonna for the most UK number one albums by a female artist.

The album's success was fueled by record-breaking streaming numbers. 'The Tortured Poets Department' broke Spotify's record for the most streams in a single day on its April 19 release date. It went on to become the first album to surpass 1 billion streams in its debut week.

Swift also achieved a chart double, with her single 'Fortnight' featuring Post Malone simultaneously reaching number one on the UK singles chart. This marks Swift's third consecutive year scoring a UK chart double, a feat accomplished by only the biggest stars.

In the US, 'The Tortured Poets Department' is projected to sell over 1.8 million copies in its first week, with 700,000 of those sales coming from vinyl - breaking Swift's own record for most vinyl albums sold in a week. The album's lead single 'Fortnight' also broke the record for most single-day streams, surpassing Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'.

Why this matters: Taylor Swift's continued dominance of the music charts solidifies her status as the biggest pop star of the 21st century. Her ability to break records and top charts in multiple countries simultaneously is a testament to her enduring popularity and cultural impact.

While 'The Tortured Poets Department' has received mixed reviews from critics, with some calling it a "wildly ambitious cathartic confession" and others saying Swift is "revisiting familiar themes," the album's massive commercial success is undeniable. As Swift continues her blockbuster 'Eras' tour, which is projected to gross over $2 billion, her reign at the top shows no signs of slowing down.

Key Takeaways

• Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' tops UK charts, sells 270K units.
• Album breaks Spotify's single-day streaming record, surpasses 1B streams in debut week.
• Swift's single 'Fortnight' reaches #1 on UK singles chart, her 3rd consecutive UK chart double.
• Album projected to sell 1.8M copies in US first week, breaking Swift's vinyl sales record.
• Swift's continued chart dominance solidifies her status as the biggest pop star of 21st century.