Taylor Swift's Folklore gets early CD release in the UK

Taylor Swift's new album could be her first to score more than a week at Number 1.
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Taylor Swift's Folklore has been released on CD three days earlier than planned in the UK. 

The superstar's eighth album was released on Friday, July 24 on streaming and download platforms only after being announced just 17 hours prior. The record debuted at Number 1 last Friday (July 31) with 37,000 chart sales.

The album's release on CD was planned for August 7, but in an unexpected move, Taylor's UK record label EMI made the collection available from yesterday (August 4), with copies arriving in shops and being shipped from online stores. 

It gives Taylor a fighting chance of a second week at Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart. Irish band Fontaines D.C were leading the way earlier in the week with new album A Hero's Death, but Folklore's significant physical sales boost means it could hold on to the summit. 

MORE: Every Number 1 album by a female solo artist

If it manages it, Folklore will be Taylor's first album to spend more than one week at Number 1 in the UK. View Taylor's Official UK Chart history in full.

Taylor's website still lists Folklore's cassette release as September 18 and the double vinyl on November 27. 

In the US, Folklore debuted at Number 1 with 846,000 chart sales - the biggest opening week of 2020. Lead single Cardigan also landed at top, making her the first artist in US chart history to debut at the top of the Billboard singles and albums charts in the same week.

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vastariner

-2

That's one of the most pathetic and desperate things I've ever seen when it comes to the charts. Missing out on one week, when she's bound to have got it next week and probably the rest of the month, would mean nothing to EMI and Taylor Swift but would mean the world to an upcoming band that may never get a similar chance. Just sheer spite and manipulation with basically placing the album where they want with the pre-orders.

J

J21

0

It's not pathetic or desperate, its smart marketing and considering she didn't tell her label.she had been working on it and wanted to release it until 2 days before release, it was expected ehat do u want her to do, not release physical copies at all even though that is possibly her strongest market, behave

ML

Mick Lynch

0

I'd say taylor doesnt even know who was no. 2. Its a record company thing. They want the publicity. Record companies have been manipulating the charts for years, (even Ed Sheerans 3 different versions of Perfect counted as 1 sale which was ridiculous, so i wouldnt blame the artist.

JG

Jose García

1

Great! I hope she keeps that #1!