Overview

• The album arrived on October 3 with 12 songs written and recorded during the Eras Tour, which Swift described on Instagram as a personal self‑portrait.
• Spotify presaves reportedly topped five million, setting a new pre‑release record as fans organized streaming pushes across platforms.
• Several tracks leaked hours before the official drop, and Swift signaled disapproval by liking a fan’s Instagram reel urging listeners to wait for the release.
• George Michael’s team publicly thanked Swift for the nod in the track Father Figure, confirming approval of the homage.
• Industry reports note an unusually light slate of other major releases this week, with some artists said to have shifted dates, including Robbie Williams.