Taylor Swift has secured another historic milestone, extending her dominance as one of the most streamed artists in the world. This week, her 2020 studio album Folklore surpassed 11 billion streams on Spotify, becoming her third project to cross the benchmark. With this achievement, Swift now ties The Weeknd as the only artists with three albums that have reached or exceeded 11 billion streams on the platform. She also becomes the first woman in Spotify history to earn three albums at this level, breaking a tie with Ed Sheeran, Bad Bunny, Dua Lipa, and Post Malone.
Folklore joins Lover and Midnights as the latest entry in Taylor Swift’s triple-milestone run. The accomplishment underscores the longevity of her catalog and the enduring appeal of a record that marked a distinct turn in her artistry. Released as a surprise on July 24, 2020, Folklore was crafted during the early months of the pandemic. Swift recorded vocals in her Los Angeles home studio while collaborating virtually with Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff, who worked from their respective spaces in New York.
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The album represented a bold shift away from the autobiographical pop storytelling that defined much of Swift’s previous work. Instead, Folklore built a fictional universe of characters, fragmented memories, and interwoven narratives. She also stepped away from the pop sound that defined her prior records, embracing an atmospheric palette that blended elements of alternative, folk, indie rock, and electronic music.
Commercial success quickly followed. Folklore debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, spent eight weeks at the top, and became the best-selling album of 2020 in the United States. Its singles “Cardigan,” “The 1,” and “Exile” featuring Bon Iver reached the Top 10 in several markets, with “Cardigan” hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Folklore went on to win Album of the Year at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. More than five years later, it remains what many consider Taylor’s best album ever.
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