Taylor Swift to break records with 'The Tortured Poets Department'
Multiple Grammys, a billionaire, and a history-making global tour. Can it get any better than this for Taylor Swift? Turns out, it can. Swift, who is preparing to release her 11th studio album The Tortured Poets Department on Friday, is eyeing even greater success with this new album. Tom Poleman, iHeartRadio's Chief Programming Officer and President, has described it as "the most anticipated album ever" in his career.
Swift's previous albums have set high expectations
Swift's previous albums, Midnights and 1989 (Taylor's Version), released in 2022 and 2023, respectively, broke numerous streaming, sales, and chart records. An anonymous major record label executive—while talking to CNN—emphasized that for an artist of Swift's stature, achieving "huge commercial milestones" is as important as fan engagement. "It's like James Cameron....who cares about quality, cares about credibility but also cares about commercial success," he said. Both albums dominated the Billboard 200 albums chart for six weeks.
'A pop culture event,' per Poleman
The Tortured Poets Department is set to be released at a high point in Swift's career. The album's performance will either highlight Swift's limitless potential or suggest a possible ceiling to her success. "It's not just a music event, it's a pop culture event that I think that everybody in America will be talking about and celebrating together," Poleman told CNN. "I think she's going to break the internet," he added.
Swift's 2020 album 'Folklore' marked a career turning point
Swift's 2020 album Folklore was a significant milestone in her career. It held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart for 11 weeks and earned her a third Album of the Year Grammy! Keith Caulfield, managing director of charts & data operations at Billboard, told CNN in an interview, "She's not just a celebrity. She is also an incredibly respected musician and artist that fans love to engage with."
Swift's recent 'Eras Tour' reflects her soaring popularity
Swift's popularity skyrocketed when she announced the Eras Tour, her first tour since 2018. The overwhelming demand for tickets led to Ticketmaster's crash, resulting in a congressional hearing about its parent company Live Nation's order processing capabilities. Despite this, the lucky ticket holders were treated to a showcase of Swift's greatest hits from her nearly two-decade-long career. Her powerful (literally) concert also led to an earthquake!
