Taylor Swift beats “The Beatles,” claims fastest UK number one album record

Swift’s latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” also holds multiple records on Spotify and Apple Music.

Taylor Swift’s latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” debuted at number one, surpassing the competition by a wide margin.

Album Cover of “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology” (Courtesy: @taylorswift on Instagram)

This achievement also marks a historic milestone, with the 14-time Grammy winner now being the fastest artist to ever accumulate twelve UK number one albums.

Previously held by The Beatles, the record stood at fourteen years and one month.  Swift, however, accomplished this feat in a significantly shorter timeframe – eleven years and six months. 

According to the Official Charts Company, “No other artist has achieved this level of success in such a condensed period.”

TTPD's dominance extends beyond the UK. The album secured the top spot in Australia and is projected to replicate this success in the US charts. 

Streaming services like Spotify and Amazon Music declared TTPD their most streamed album in a single day upon release.  By Wednesday, Spotify confirmed it as their most streamed album in a week, surpassing a staggering 1 billion streams.

Music industry expert Mark Sutherland expressed his continued awe for the “Fortnight” singer’s achievements. 

Speaking to Business Recorder, he said, “We’re past the stage where you can be surprised by Taylor Swift’s achievements… every time you think she’s reached a ceiling, she appears to go beyond it with the next release.”

Swift’s ongoing Eras Tour is not only breaking sales records but also generating significant economic benefits for host cities. 

Time magazine also recognised her as their 2023 Person of the Year, acknowledging not just her musical prowess but her broader cultural influence.

Swift’s “Eras Tour” resumes next month in Paris.