Taylor Swift has broken Adele’s streaming record as her new album, The Life Of A Showgirl, has racked up 3.5 million copies sold in its first week.
The modern-era single-week sales record was previously held by Adele’s album, 25, with 3.378 million copies sold upon its release in 2015.
Taylor’s fans were hoping to break Adele’s record for number one’s on Apple Music for both album and single.
The Life Of A Showgirl sold 3.2 million, physical and digital purchase copies and 300,000 from equivalent album units in streaming, totalling 3.5 million.
Adele’s 25 secured 3.482 equivalent million units in 2015, with 3.378 million being traditional sales and the remaining from streaming.
A record number of 5 million fans pre-saved The Life Of A Showgirl on Spotify and a special vinyl edition, available online, sold out in under an hour.
Taylor Swift has broken Adele’s streaming record as her new album, The Life Of A Showgirl, has racked up 3.5 million copies sold in its first week
The modern-era single-week sales record was previously held by Adele’s album, 25, with 3.378 million copies sold upon its release in 2015 (Adele pictured in 2022)
Taylor’s latest album The Life of a Showgirl, which was released last week, has polarised critics but the mega star has welcomed the ‘chaos’ of the varied reactions to the record.
She told The Zane Lowe Show on Apple Music: ‘I welcome the chaos, seeing that it’s a rule of show business. If it’s the first week of my album release and you are saying either my name or my album title, you’re helping.
‘And art, I have a lot of respect for people’s subjective opinions on art. I’m not the art police.
‘It’s like everybody is allowed to feel exactly how they want. And what our goal is as entertainers is to be a mirror.’
Elsewhere in the interview, she discussed how her music is often reflective of her state of mind.
The singer said: ‘Oftentimes, an album is a really, really wild way to look at yourself. What you’re going through in your life is going to affect whether you relate to the music that I’m putting out at any given moment’
Taylor also reassured her fans that she is in the music business for the long-term.
She added: ‘We’re doing this thing for keeps. I have such an eye on legacy when I’m making my music.’
The Life Of A Showgirl sold 3.2 million, physical and digital purchase copies and 300,000 from equivalent album units in streaming, totalling 3.5 million
Adele’s 25 secured 3.482 equivalent million units in 2015, with 3.378 million being traditional sales and the remaining from streaming
Taylor continued: ‘I know what I made. I know I adore it, and I know that on the theme of what the Showgirl is, all of this is part of it.’
Last week, fans were plotting to shake off Adele’s streaming crown ahead of the release of Taylor’s album.
Swifties were hoping to break the record for number one’s on Apple Music for both album and single.
The most number one’s on Apple Music Songs is held by Adele for her hit Easy On Me which managed to hit the top spot in 121 countries.
All 12 songs from The Life Of A Showgirl are currently in Apple Music’s top 12.
A fan account penned on Wednesday: ‘We will organize ourselves this time to break the record for #1’s on Apple Music for album and single.
‘The Fate of Ophelia will need 122 #1s on Apple Music to break the platform’s record. The Life of a Showgirl will need 143 #1s on Apple Music Albums.
‘We’ll only have one version of each according to Taylor, so it’ll be 10x easier than other times.’
Taylor Swift’s biggest selling albums… so far
1989 (2014): 14 million
Fearless (2008): 11 million
Red (2012): 8 million
Taylor Swift (2006): 8 million
Currently only 2017’s Reputation and her debut album (pictured) – which was released in 2006 – are left to be re-released
The Tortured Poets Department (2024): 8 million
* Based on US domestic sales according to the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA)
A fan account penned on Wednesday: ‘We will organize ourselves this time to break the record for #1’s on Apple Music for album and single.
‘The Fate of Ophelia will need 122 #1s on Apple Music to break the platform’s record.
The Blank Space hitmaker, 35, releases The Life of a Showgirl, with her devoted superfans giddy with excitement over the upcoming new music offering
‘The Life of a Showgirl will need 143 #1s on Apple Music Albums.
‘We’ll only have one version of each according to Taylor, so it’ll be 10x easier than other times.’
