Swift and Presley have shared 67 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart
The Queen of Pop, Taylor Swift, rounds out 2023 by tying the King of Rock, Elvis Presley’s, Billboard 200 chart record at 67 weeks as 1989 (Taylor’s Version) returns to the No. 1 position for the fourth non-consecutive week, according to tracking company Luminate. With the feat, Swift ties Presley as the solo artist with the most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Swift’s latest re-recorded album dethrones Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 in its second week from the top-selling album and will surpass Presley’s record if the project lands atop next week’s Billboard 200.
Luminate also reports that Swift has three albums in the top ten this week. 1989 (Taylor’s Version) gained a 25% increase in sales from last week with 136 thousand units, likely mostly stemming from vinyl sales for Christmas. Midnights ranks at No. 3 with 75 thousand units moved while Lover lands at No. 7 with 60 thousand units.
2023 is arguably Swift’s biggest year ever with 34-year-old pop superstar crowned Spotify’s Global Top Artist of the Year. Since January 1st, fans have streamed Swift’s songs more than 26.1 billion global times, dethroning the three-year champion Bad Bunny to the runner-up position. Swift’s streams include two record-breaking re-recordings of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and 1989 (Taylor’s Version) which were both released this year while on her massive The Eras Tour.
Pollstar has also projected that The Eras Tour grossed $1.039 billion, making it the single highest-grossing tour of all time and the first to cross the ten-digit threshold. Pollstar’s numbers are based on its box office reports and extensive research including “ticket prices in each market, record capacities at each venue and comparable tour data.” The feat was accomplished after performing 60 shows that began in March in Glendale, Arizona, and wrapped last month in Buenos Aires, Argentina. During that time, she sold 4.3 million tickets averaging $238.95 each, bringing each show’s average gross to $17.32 million.
The country-turned-pop star is also being credited with raising the United States economy with The Eras Tour. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve and Cincinnati officials share that Swift’s 53-date US trek has helped raise the economy with tourism.
Bloomberg also crowned Swift a billionaire due to the tour and her album re-recordings, the first artist to be minted the status solely on her musical accomplishments. While specific numbers are unclear, Bloomberg’s analysis is based on assets and earnings that “could be confirmed or traced from publicly disclosed figures.” These include the estimated value of her music catalog, five homes, earnings from streaming deals, music sales, concert tickets and merchandise, all after expenses and taxes have been deducted.
Earlier this month, Time magazine named Swift their 2023 Person of the Year due to her finding a way to “transcend borders and be a source of light.”
