Taylor Swift has achieved another remarkable milestone, solidifying her position as one of the most streamed artists worldwide. This week, her 2020 album Folklore surpassed 11 billion streams on Spotify, becoming her third record to reach this impressive threshold. With this achievement, Swift now ties with The Weeknd as the only artists to have three albums with over 11 billion streams on the platform. She also becomes the first woman in Spotify’s history to reach this milestone, surpassing Ed Sheeran, Bad Bunny, Dua Lipa, and Post Malone, who all have two albums in this category.
Folklore joins Lover and Midnights as part of Taylor Swift’s exclusive group of albums with over 11 billion streams. This latest achievement highlights the lasting power of her music and the widespread popularity of an album that marked a dramatic shift in her sound. Released unexpectedly on July 24, 2020, Folklore was recorded during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Swift worked from her Los Angeles home studio, collaborating virtually with Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff, who contributed from their studios in New York.
The album represented a significant departure from Swift’s earlier autobiographical pop storytelling, instead offering a collection of fictional tales and intricate narratives set to a more atmospheric sound. Drawing influences from folk, indie rock, and electronic music, Folklore quickly became a commercial success, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, where it remained for eight weeks. It was also the best-selling album of 2020 in the U.S., with singles such as “Cardigan,” “The 1,” and “Exile” (featuring Bon Iver) all charting in the Top 10. Folklore went on to win the prestigious Album of the Year at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
Over five years since its release, Folklore continues to be regarded by many as one of Taylor Swift’s finest works.