As Taylor Swift’s ‘Speak Now’ prepares for release, let’s take a look at the staggering statistics showcasing the overwhelming success of her first two ‘Taylor’s Version’ re-recordings compared to the original albums.
Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated album, ‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version),’ is set to hit the airwaves on July 7, adding to the already triumphant lineup of re-recorded albums that include ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ and ‘Red (Taylor’s Version),’ both released in 2021. The time gap between these two re-recorded albums provided ample opportunity to assess the listenership of the ‘Taylor’s Version’ projects and their impact on the original recordings.
‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ and ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ made history as reworked editions of their predecessors, soaring to the top of the charts and becoming the definitive versions of these albums since their release. Analyzing the current data, including sales, streams, radio play, and chart performance, leaves no room for doubt regarding the commercial triumph of these first two re-recorded albums.
Let’s dive into seven key stats that vividly demonstrate the difference in listenership between Taylor Swift’s original albums and her re-recorded versions.
‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’: Since its release on April 9, 2021, the re-recorded version of Swift’s sophomore album has amassed 1.81 million equivalent album units, while the 2008 original ‘Fearless’ has accumulated 535,000 equivalent album units during the same period. This means that ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ has earned over three times as many units as the original.
‘Red (Taylor’s Version)‘: Since its release on November 12, 2021, the re-recorded version of ‘Red’ has achieved a staggering 3.32 million equivalent album units, compared to the original ‘Red,’ which accumulated 390,000 units during the same timeframe. The sales and streams of ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ continue to soar, currently sitting at No. 25 on the Billboard 200, nearly ten times the total equivalent album units of the original ‘Red.’
Streaming Dominance: Both ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ and ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ have surpassed the billion-stream mark. ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ has garnered 1.47 billion on-demand song streams since its release, while the original ‘Fearless’ has reached 680.39 million streams during the same period. Similarly, ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ has amassed 2.86 billion on-demand song streams, dwarfing the 476.48 million streams of the original ‘Red.’ The re-recorded versions have unquestionably surpassed the streams of their originals.
Album Sales: The re-recorded albums have experienced a substantial increase in sales compared to their predecessors. ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ has sold 737,000 copies since its April 2021 release, while the original ‘Fearless’ sold only 41,000 copies during the same period. Likewise, ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ has nearly reached the 1 million mark in sales with 950,000 copies sold, leaving the 2012 ‘Red’ trailing at 45,000 copies sold. In essence, for every one person purchasing the original ‘Red,’ approximately 21 people have opted for ‘Red (Taylor’s Version).’
The Power of “All Too Well”: The success of ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ can be largely attributed to the emotional centerpiece of the album, “All Too Well.” With its original version and the never-before-heard 10-minute rendition, “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” became an instant sensation among fans. Since its release, the re-recorded track has garnered 444.2 million total on-demand streams, overshadowing the 39.4 million streams of the original “All Too Well” during the same timeframe. Similarly, digital song sales have seen a significant disparity, with “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” selling 96,000 copies compared to 10,000 copies of the original.
Radio Impact: Although the original version of “All Too Well” was never a radio hit, the re-recorded version, “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” gained attention from radio stations. The track has amassed 14,000 U.S. radio plays, approximately 140 times more than the original’s 100 radio plays since the release of ‘Red (Taylor’s Version).’ Additionally, “Message in a Bottle,” an electro-pop track rediscovered for ‘Red (Taylor’s Version),’ climbed to No. 45 on the Hot 100 and reached No. 17 on the Pop Airplay chart. The song has received 139,000 spins across all formats on U.S. terrestrial and satellite radio, a remarkable feat for a track that had previously remained shelved for nine years.
Chart Longevity: Both ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ and ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ have showcased remarkable staying power on the Billboard 200. ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ has spent 103 weeks on the chart, with 17 of those weeks in the top 40. ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ has logged 85 weeks on the chart, 57 of which have been in the top 40, surpassing the peak position of the original ‘Red’ at No. 83. Meanwhile, ‘Fearless’ has not reappeared on the Billboard 200 since the release of its ‘Taylor’s Version.’
With these incredible statistics, it’s evident that Taylor Swift’s re-recordings have solidified their dominance over the original albums. As we eagerly anticipate ‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version),’ it’s safe to assume that the trend of commercial triumph will continue, further emphasizing Swift’s artistic and business prowess.
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