Taylor Swift’s Big Win
Taylor Swift has finally achieved a significant milestone in her career, announcing last Friday that she now owns her first six albums. With this news, Spotify streams of her music from that era quickly surged.
A Significant Increase in Streams
According to numbers shared with The Hollywood Reporter, streams on all original versions of her older albums have at least doubled on Friday, May 30th, compared to the average daily streams of the albums from April 1 to May 29. This increase is a testament to Swift’s dedicated fan base and their excitement about her regaining control of her music.
Album-Specific Increases
Some albums saw a more significant increase in streams than others. Speak Now had the largest individual spike, with streams worldwide increasing by 430 percent. Swift’s debut album and 2017’s reputation were the second and third, with streams rising by 220 percent and 175 percent, respectively. Fearless, Red, and 1989 also saw significant increases, with streams rising by 160 percent, 150 percent, and 110 percent, respectively.
Background on the Controversy
Before Swift’s announcement, her first six albums were at the center of one of the most significant controversies in recent music industry history. Music executive Scooter Braun’s purchase of Swift’s old record label, Big Machine, in 2019 sparked a heated debate. Swift described the deal as "my worst case" and accused Braun of manipulative bullying. Braun sold Swift’s music to the private equity company Shamrock Capital a year later, and Swift has now bought back her music from Shamrock.
Swift’s Emotional Response
Swift was overjoyed by the news, writing, "I broke out in tears of joy at random intervals since I found out that this really happened… I can actually say the words: All the music I’ve ever made… Now belongs to me…" This moment marks a significant victory for Swift, who had been trying to regain control of her musical heritage.
What’s Next for Swifties?
Now that Swift owns her music, fans are wondering what albums they will listen to more in the future. With two albums that fans were expecting "Taylor’s versions" of, there is still speculation about what’s to come. Swift has announced that she has already completed re-recording her debut album and has recovered less than a quarter of reputation. She has also hinted that these albums may still have their moment to reappear if the time is right.
A Celebration, Not a Longing
Swift has made it clear that if she does re-release these albums, it will be a celebration, not a moment of sadness or longing. She wrote, "These 2 albums can still have their moment to reappear if the time is right, if that were something you would be happy about… But if it happens, it won’t be a place of sadness and longing for what I wish I would have been. It will only be a celebration now."
