Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” makes Pop Airplay history as the first song ever to debut inside the top 10, leading new The Life of a Showgirl era. HAMBURG, GERMANY – JULY 23: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO STANDALONE PUBLICATION USE (NO SPECIAL INTEREST OR SINGLE ARTIST PUBLICATION USE; NO BOOK USE)) Taylor Swift performs onstage during “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at Volksparkstadion on July 23, 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Gregor Fischer/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management )
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Taylor Swift is having the most exciting week of her career thanks to the release of her highly-anticipated new album The Life of a Showgirl. The set, which earns the largest debut of all time, is fronted by “The Fate of Ophelia,” which the singer-songwriter has chosen as the lead single. The tune opens atop multiple Billboard charts this week and makes history as it begins its time on the Pop Airplay chart inside the top 10 — a feat no other musical act has managed before.
“The Fate of Ophelia” Makes Pop Airplay History
“The Fate of Ophelia” launches at No. 8 on the Pop Airplay chart, Billboard’s most competitive of its three pop-focused radio rankings. The chart company reports that Swift’s latest focus track is the first to debut inside the top 10 in the decades-long history of the list.
How Does Billboard Compile the Pop Airplay Chart?
The Pop Airplay chart measures total spins and audience impressions across the United States, painting a picture of the most successful tunes at top 40 stations. Swift manages a nearly impossible feat this frame on the Pop Airplay chart—and several of them, actually—as “The Fate of Ophelia” kicks off its time inside the top 10, marking a new first for the list.
What Songs from The Life of a Showgirl Became Pop Radio Hits?
Three other tracks taken from The Life of a Showgirl reach the tally as well. It’s somewhat uncommon for even major stars to fill multiple spaces on the Pop Airplay roster at the same time, but a quartet of debuts is nearly unheard of. Swift’s new songs “Opalite,” “The Life of a Showgirl,” a duet with Sabrina Carpenter, and “WiSh Li$t” debut at Nos. 34, 38, and 39, respectively.
Taylor Swift Beats Nicki Minaj’s Historic Record
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 30: Recording artists Taylor Swift (L) and Nicki Minaj perform onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
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Thanks to her four new wins, Swift increases her career total number of hits on the Pop Airplay chart from 45 to 49. Her domination this frame helps her push past Nicki Minaj to claim the second-most entries in the list’s history. Minaj remains steady with 47 smashes, while Rihanna leads all acts with 51 — a number Swift could match sometime soon.
How Many Top 10 Pop Radio Hits Does Taylor Swift Have?
Swift has now notched 26 top 10s on the Pop Airplay chart throughout her career, as that total now includes “The Fate of Ophelia.” Half of those — 13, fittingly enough, as that is the singer’s lucky number — have reached No. 1. Swift leads Rihanna, Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Bruno Mars, and Justin Bieber, who are all tied for second place on the list of artists with the most rulers, each with 11 apiece. Bieber joins that crowd this frame, as his tune “Daisies” replaces Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” at the summit.
What Is Taylor Swift’s Longest-Running No. 1 at Pop Radio?
Among Swift’s 13 No. 1s on the Pop Airplay chart, just one has managed a double-digit reign. “Cruel Summer” – which finally made it to the top spot in August 2023, years after it was first released – spent 10 weeks running the show and 45 weeks total on the roster.
What Taylor Swift Songs Have Hit No. 1 at Pop Radio?
Swift has commanded the Pop Airplay list with all of the following songs:
- “Cruel Summer”
- “I Knew You Were Trouble”
- “Blank Space”
- “Bad Blood” with Kendrick Lamar
- “Anti-Hero”
- “Style”
- “Wildest Dreams”
- “Shake It Off”
- “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)”
- “Karma”
- “Delicate”
- “Look What You Made Me Do”
- “Love Story”
The Life of a Showgirl Fills Multiple Radio Charts
Swift fills multiple spots on all three of Billboard’s pop radio charts this week with several debuts from The Life of a Showgirl. Two tracks open on the Adult Contemporary ranking, while half of all the songs featured on the album — six in total — enter the Adult Pop Airplay roster in what may be a first.