Taylor Swift has matched Madonna's record for the most UK number one albums by a female artist, securing her 12th chart-topper with 'The Tortured Poets Department'. The album achieved 207,000 chart sales in its opening week, the biggest in seven years since Ed Sheeran's '÷' in 2017.
The 31-track double album also dominates the singles chart, with 'Fortnight' featuring Post Malone reaching number one. Swift now has three songs in the top five, marking her fourth number one single and third chart double.
Swift reached 12 number ones in 11 years and six months, faster than any other artist. Eight of those have come since 2020, partly due to her re-recording project. Other artists with 12 number ones include Bruce Springsteen, while the Beatles lead with 16.
'The Tortured Poets Department' became the most streamed album in a single day on Spotify and the fastest to reach a billion streams. In the US, Swift sold 700,000 vinyl copies in three days, breaking the weekly record.
Swift's Eras tour, which has already grossed over $1 billion, begins its European leg in Paris on 9 May and reaches the UK on 7 June at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium, including eight dates at Wembley Stadium.
