Taylor Swift just pulled off something huge—she broke one of Adele’s most iconic records. Her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, sold a staggering 3.5 million copies in its first week, making it the biggest debut since Adele’s 25 back in 2015.
That’s right—Swift’s latest project has officially dethroned Adele’s legendary first-week sales of 3.378 million copies. According to Deadline, The Life of a Showgirl moved 3.2 million in physical and digital album sales, plus another 300,000 equivalent units from streaming, for a total of 3.5 million.
For comparison, when Adele dropped 25, she scored 3.482 million equivalent units, with nearly all of that coming from traditional album sales. It was a number that seemed unbeatable—until now.
Much of Swift’s success this time around came from the digital side, especially Spotify. The streaming giant confirmed that more than 5 million fans pre-saved the album before its release. That’s a record on its own. She also dropped a special vinyl edition, available only through her website, which sold out in less than an hour.
Fans, of course, were already on a mission. For weeks leading up to the release, Swifties were swapping strategies online about how to help their idol “shake off” Adele’s crown. Their efforts clearly paid off.
“The Life of a Showgirl” was released just last week, but it’s already rewriting the music charts. All 12 tracks are currently sitting in the top 12 spots on Apple Music’s global chart—something even Swift hadn’t pulled off before.
This record-breaking moment caps off what’s been a whirlwind year for Taylor. Between her sold-out Eras Tour and her constant presence on streaming charts, she’s proving that her cultural dominance is far from over.
It’s also a sign of how the music industry has changed. Adele’s massive numbers in 2015 came during a time when physical sales still ruled. Today, Swift’s mix of streaming power, loyal fan engagement, and collectible vinyl has created a modern-day marketing masterpiece.
Whether you’re a Swiftie or not, it’s hard to ignore how she continues to reinvent what success looks like in the streaming era. She’s managed to blend old-school album loyalty with new-school digital strategy—and that’s what’s keeping her on top.
One thing’s for sure: Taylor Swift just reminded everyone that she’s not just playing the game. She’s rewriting the rules.
