Taylor Swift Sets Record for Most No.1 Albums by a Woman

• celebrities

Grammy award-winning artist Taylor Swift has made history once again, eclipsing the record for the most No. 1 albums by a female artist, with her latest, "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)," debuting at the pinnacle of the Billboard 200 charts.

This marks her 12th record to achieve such acclaim, unseating the legendary Barbra Streisand who previously held the record with 11 chart-topping albums. The announcement of Swift's new milestone was made official this past Sunday.

Her triumph also puts her on par with fellow music giant Drake, who also boasts 12 No. 1 albums. Swift, however, remains in the shadows of Jay-Z's 14 No. 1 achievements and the Beatles' staggering 19.

Swift's Retake on 'Speak Now

"Speak Now (Taylor's Version)," a re-recorded version of her original release, hit the market on July 7, nearly 13 years after the initial album was bestowed upon her adoring fans.

This release, which consists of 22 tracks, is part of Swift's endeavor to regain control over her first six albums' masters, following a controversial sale by her former label, Big Machine, to Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings.

Adding another feather to her already ostentatious cap, Swift was also named one of Forbes' richest self-made women in 2023, ranking 34th with a net worth of $740 million. This achievement lands her in the second spot among the wealthiest female musicians, coming in just behind Rihanna, who stands tall with a net worth of $1.4 billion.

Late last year, Swift delighted fans with the release of "Midnights," her 10th studio album, which set the record for the "most streamed album on Spotify in 24 hours," and proved to be the bestselling release of 2022. Swift’s immense popularity, however, has not been without controversy.

In 2023, the music industry and consumer rights came under scrutiny following a scandal during Swift's "The Eras Tour" ticket sales. Fans worldwide were left frustrated after Ticketmaster's site crashed under the immense demand for tickets to the 35-stadium tour.

This fiasco prompted legislative action in May, with two Democratic lawmakers introducing a bill aimed at promoting transparency in ticket pricing and outlawing the practice of dynamic pricing, which allows for inflated ticket costs in high demand situations.

Amid the furor, Amy Klobuchar, the Chairwoman of the antitrust subcommittee, addressed the issue publicly. "The competition problem in ticketing markets was made painfully obvious when Ticketmaster’s website failed hundreds of thousands of fans hoping to purchase concert tickets," she stated, further reinforcing the need for industry oversight. Swift's record-breaking success is indeed a testament to her indomitable spirit in the face of such trials.