Taylor Swift’s rerelease of her iconic “1989” album has not only brought attention to the new music but has also given a significant boost to the old versions. The reemergence of the original album contradicts Taylor’s initial intention for rerecording the songs.
Key Takeaway
Taylor Swift’s rerelease of her “1989” album has not only reignited interest in her music but has also given a significant boost to the sales of the original version. The album has achieved remarkable success in streaming numbers, CD sales, and vinyl records. However, the unintended consequence of the rerelease is additional profits for her former label, Big Machine. Despite this, Taylor’s recent billionaire status indicates that she is unlikely to lose any sleep over it.
Streaming Success on Spotify and YouTube
Since the release of Taylor’s version of the album, the 2014 original has experienced over 15 MILLION streams on streaming platforms such as Spotify and YouTube. YouTube data alone reveals a staggering 2.8 million streams, with a majority of fans revisiting her all-time popular music videos, including “Blank Space” and “Shake It Off.”
On Spotify, the old album has amassed 12.5 million streams, despite the availability of the new music. The breakout hit from the album, “Style,” takes the lead with over 2.5 million streams, closely followed by “Blank Space.” Other fan favorites like “Bad Blood” and “Wildest Dreams” have also garnered substantial numbers.
Surge in CD Sales and Vinyl Records
In addition to the digital realm, physical album sales have seen a remarkable surge as well. Amazon data indicates that CD sales for the album have gone through the roof, with the deluxe version outselling the usual numbers by 271%, and the traditional CD jumping up by 189%.
Notably, the resurgence isn’t limited to CDs alone. Vinyl records of the original album have skyrocketed by 210%, propelling their rank on the charts from 261 to 84.
Unintended Benefits for Former Label
While these astronomical increases may sound like great news, it is essential to remember that Taylor decided to rerecord her first 6 albums because she was unable to acquire the master recordings when her former label, Big Machine, was bought by Scooter Braun. With full ownership of the re-recordings, the unintended side effect of the latest release is the additional profits flowing into her former label’s pockets.
