Taylor Swift vs. Billie Eilish: A Billboard 200 showdown

Taylor Swift's "Tortured Poets Department" continues its impressive run atop the Billboard 200 albums chart, marking its fifth consecutive week at No. 1. This achievement is particularly notable as it marks the first album to achieve this feat since Morgan Wallen's "One Thing at a Time" in early 2023. According to Billboard, "TTPD" has now earned the largest fifth week for any album since Adele's "25" in 2016.

While Billie Eilish's highly anticipated new studio album, "Hit Me Hard and Soft," released on May 17, didn't manage to dethrone Swift, it secured a comfortable second-place position. This marks Eilish's third album to reach the top two on the Billboard 200, following the success of "Happier Than Ever" in 2021 and "When We Fall Asleep" in 2019.

Swift's chart dominance comes as she continues her record-breaking Eras Tour, which recently made stops in Portugal. The tour will resume in Spain after a short break.

In contrast, Eilish's Billboard 200 success is somewhat overshadowed by ongoing backlash from Swift fans, stemming from an interview with Billboard in March. During the interview, Eilish criticised artists who perform lengthy concerts and release numerous versions of albums with different packaging, citing environmental concerns. While Eilish's intention was to advocate for sustainability in the music industry, Swift's fans interpreted her comments as a thinly veiled dig at the pop star.

Eilish has since clarified her stance, emphasising that her comments were not directed at any specific artist and reiterating her commitment to sustainability. In a statement on her website, Eilish's team outlined the sustainable practices used in the production of "Hit Me Hard and Soft."