Taylor Swift’s album Midnights makes a triumphant return to the top of the Billboard 200 albums chart this week, reclaiming its former position for the third time. Her resurgence has brought an end to Morgan Wallen’s historic streak at the summit of the chart.
Midnights jumps from No. 3 to No. 1 this week. The album continues to impress, moving an additional 282,000 equivalent album units in the past week alone, according to Luminate (and published by Billboard). This achievement is even more significant considering the fact that the album has been available for over half a year. Out of the total figure, album sales accounted for 196,000 units, while streaming equivalent units contributed a sizable 80,000.
Since its initial release in late 2022, Midnights has maintained a strong presence on the charts, as it has yet to leave the top 10. This frame, it enjoys a resurgence after Taylor Swift re-released the album as a deluxe edition, aptly named The Til Dawn Edition. This new version comes with a previously unavailable song and two reworked fan favorites, which clearly enticed fans to make the purchase. Also, the release of a colorful vinyl edition of the album, marketed as a collector’s item, has further spurred the buying frenzy.
In addition to her album’s success, Taylor Swift’s new single “Karma” is expected to make a significant impact on the Hot 100 chart. With the recent addition of rapper Ice Spice to the track and a robust promotional campaign, “Karma” is poised to climb its way up the rankings and potentially secure a spot in the top 10. The remix is featured on the Midnights deluxe edition, and all the streaming attention the tune is garnering helped it return to No. 1.
Midnights has now notched six nonconsecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard 200. The album’s remarkable performance is reflected in its continuous presence in the top 10 throughout its 32 weeks on the chart.
Midnights is the first album to dethrone Wallen’s immensely popular release, One Thing at a Time, since he claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200. Wallen’s country album spent an impressive 12 weeks at the summit before being overtaken by Swift. Despite the fall, One Thing at a Time still maintains a strong presence on the chart, currently holding the No. 2 position with a notable 126,000 equivalent album units moved.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2023/06/04/turns-out-taylor-swift-is-the-only-person-who-can-topple-morgan-wallen/