Taylor Swift Overtakes Madonna for Most Number One Albums in British Chart History

Taylor Swift Breaks Records

Taylor Swift has surpassed Madonna as the artist with the most British albums reaching number one.

Swift achieved this milestone with her latest live album “Lover (Live from Paris)”, which features live performances from her 2019 studio LP, granting her the 13th number one album.

Originally, a limited edition vinyl version was released for Valentine’s Day in 2023, but this year saw the launch of a new heart-shaped double vinyl version. The record sold 47,000 copies in the UK, marking the largest first week for an album in 2025.

This is the second time Swift has reached number one with an album, previously hitting the top spot with her “Reputation” album in 2017, which was available for streaming just weeks after its release.

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Now, she is in a tie with Elvis Presley, both having 13 British number one albums. However, she trails behind The Rolling Stones, who boast 14, while Robbie Williams and The Beatles are also tied with 13.

Impressive Vinyl Sales

In recent years, Swift has achieved numerous accolades in vinyl sales. Her 11th album, “Department of Inquisitive Poets,” led vinyl album sales for 2024, selling a total of 112,000 LPs, as reported by the Official Chart Company. No other album has sold so many copies within the first year of release this century, with 66,000 of those sales occurring in the first week.

This marks the third consecutive year that Swift has topped the vinyl album chart in the UK. In 2023, “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” was number one, while “Midnight” topped the charts in 2022.

Both of these albums also charted in 2024, with “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” at number 20 and “Midnight” at number 38. Additionally, three other Swift albums—“Lover” (29), “Folklore” (30), and “Evermore” (36)—also made it to the top 40 in 2024.

Last year, it was revealed that in 2023, one out of every 15 vinyl records sold in the United States was by Swift.

In December, she wrapped up her extensive worldwide tour of the “Era,” with the final show in Vancouver on December 8, cementing its status as the biggest tour of 2024, outpacing competitors such as Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, and Madonna.