Taylor Swift’s ‘Tortured Poets’ Is the Decade’s Fastest-Selling Vinyl Album

By Alison Peake

Alison is an entertainment writer for Nerdspin. She is also a content marketing consultant and works with lifestyle brands.

Alison is an entertainment writer for Nerdspin. She is also a content marketing consultant and works with lifestyle…

Taylor Swift isn’t just the biggest pop star on the planet—she’s also the reigning queen of vinyl, too.

In a time when most artists are chasing streams and fleeting digital engagement, Swift is turning back the clock—and rewriting the rulebook. The Tortured Poets Department, her 2024 alt-pop opus, has officially been crowned the fastest-selling vinyl album of the decade by the Official Charts Company as part of its 10th anniversary celebration of the Official Vinyl Charts. With a staggering 66.4k vinyl copies sold in the UK alone in under a year—and 1.489 million sold in the U.S.—Swift’s latest effort isn’t just a commercial powerhouse; it’s a cultural reset.

Of course, record-breaking is hardly new territory for the 14-time Grammy winner. Upon its release, The Tortured Poets Department shattered UK records, claiming the biggest opening week for any album since Ed Sheeran’s ÷ (Divide) in 2017. But more importantly, it solidified a shift Swift has been subtly championing for years: bringing physical media back to the mainstream.

“One out of every 15 vinyl albums sold in the U.S. in 2023 was by Taylor Swift.” Let that sink in. At a time when vinyl sales are seeing a generational resurgence, Swift isn’t just participating—she’s steering the movement.

Swift has masterfully transformed vinyl into more than just music; it’s an extension of her identity, a keepsake for fans to hold, display, and treasure. Whether it’s Folklore wrapped in sepia-toned intimacy, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) shimmering in pastel nostalgia, or Lover (Live From Paris) shaped like a heart and pressed perfectly in time for Valentine’s Day, each release feels like an event—because with Taylor, it is.

Take Lover (Live From Paris) for example. Originally a limited release, the reissue vinyl soared to No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart purely on physical sales—the first album to do so since Swift’s own Reputation in 2017. That feat helped her surpass none other than Madonna, becoming the female artist with the most No. 1 albums in UK chart history. No streaming needed, just Swifties and their turntables.

Her success isn’t just chart-based—it’s community-driven. Much like the friendship bracelets traded at The Eras Tour, collecting Swift’s vinyls has become a badge of fandom, a tangible way for fans to say, “This music matters to me.” Marketing, craftsmanship, and an uncanny ability to tap into emotional resonance? That’s classic Taylor.

So while the music world spins ever faster in the digital age, Taylor Swift reminds us that sometimes, the best way to connect is to slow things down, drop the needle, and listen.

Here’s a more detailed look at Taylor Swift’s vinyl sales and rankings in the US for 2024:

Top-Selling Artist:
Taylor Swift was the best-selling artist on vinyl, selling 2.935 million albums.

Top-Selling Album:
“The Tortured Poets Department” was the top-selling vinyl album, selling 1.489 million copies.

Other Top Albums:
“1989 (Taylor’s Version)” sold 200,000 copies, and “Folklore” sold 267,000 copies.

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