Career Timeline of Taylor Swift: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Taylor Swift, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Taylor Swift is a highly successful American singer-songwriter recognized for her autobiographical songwriting and versatility. One of the best-selling music artists globally, she has sold over 200 million records. Notably, she is the highest-grossing music performer and the first billionaire musician, making her a significant cultural and economic force in the music industry.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1989: 1989

1989 is mentioned as the title of Taylor Swift's album released in 2014, marking her transition from country to pop with a synth-pop style.

1989: Shift to Synth-Pop with "1989" Album

In 1989, Taylor Swift's album "1989" marked a shift to 1980s synth-pop, inspired by artists like Phil Collins and Madonna. The album incorporated electronic arrangements with synthesizers and drum machines.

1989: Vocal Processing on "1989"

On "1989", Taylor Swift's vocals are electronically processed to accompany the pop production.

1989: Themes of Nostalgia and Positivity on 1989

Taylor Swift's album "1989" embraced nostalgia and post-romance positivity.

2003: Working with Dan Dymtrow

In 2003, Taylor Swift and her parents started working with talent manager Dan Dymtrow, leading to modeling and song inclusion on a Maybelline compilation CD.

2004: Meeting Scott Borchetta

In 2004, Taylor Swift had first met Scott Borchetta.

2005: Catching Scott Borchetta's Attention

In 2005, Taylor Swift caught the attention of Scott Borchetta at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe, leading to her signing with Big Machine Records.

2005: Signing with Big Machine Records

In 2005, Taylor Swift signed with Big Machine Records, marking the beginning of her professional music career.

June 2006: Release of 'Tim McGraw'

In June 2006, Taylor Swift and her mother helped promote the lead single, "Tim McGraw", from her debut album by sending copies to country radio stations.

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2006: Debut Album Release

In 2006, Taylor Swift debuted as a country singer with the release of her self-titled album, 'Taylor Swift'.

2006: Release of Debut Album 'Taylor Swift'

In October 2006, Taylor Swift's debut album 'Taylor Swift' was released, peaking at number five on the US Billboard 200.

2006: Opening for Other Country Musicians

Throughout 2006, Taylor Swift promoted her debut album by opening for tours of other country musicians including George Strait, Brad Paisley, and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

October 2007: Release of The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection

In October 2007, Taylor Swift released 'The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection' EP.

2007: Partnership with Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police

In 2007, Taylor Swift partnered with the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police to launch a campaign aimed at protecting children from online predators, highlighting her commitment to child safety.

2007: Touring with a Live Band

Since 2007, Taylor Swift's performances frequently incorporate a live band with whom she has played and toured.

July 2008: Release of Beautiful Eyes

In July 2008, Taylor Swift released the 'Beautiful Eyes' EP.

November 2008: Release of Fearless

In November 2008, Taylor Swift released her second studio album, 'Fearless', in North America.

2008: Early Performance Review

In 2008, Sasha Frere-Jones of The New Yorker described Taylor Swift as a "preternaturally skilled" entertainer with a vibrant stage presence.

2008: Release of Fearless

In 2008, Taylor Swift released her second studio album, 'Fearless'.

March 2009: Fearless Released in Other Markets

In March 2009, Taylor Swift's second studio album 'Fearless' was released in markets outside North America.

2009: Billboard Top Artist Recognition

In 2009, Taylor Swift was recognized on the year-end Billboard Top Artists list, marking the first decade she appeared on the list. In 2023 she became the first act to place number one on the year-end Billboard top artists list in three different decades (2009, 2015 and 2023)

October 2010: Release of Speak Now

In October 2010, Taylor Swift released her third studio album, 'Speak Now'.

2010: Singles Released off Fearless

From 2008-2010, the singles 'White Horse', 'Fifteen', and 'Fearless' were released off the album Fearless.

2010: Acting Debut in Valentine's Day

In 2010, Taylor Swift had her acting debut in the movie Valentine's Day.

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2010: Release of Speak Now

In 2010, Taylor Swift incorporated rock elements into her third album, 'Speak Now'.

February 2011: Speak Now World Tour

From February 2011 to March 2012, Taylor Swift promoted Speak Now with the Speak Now World Tour.

2011: Concept Development for "Mean"

In 2011, Taylor Swift developed the concept and treatment for the music video "Mean".

2011: Identification as a Songwriter First

In 2011, Taylor Swift stated in The New Yorker that she identifies as a songwriter first, viewing her voice as a means to convey her lyrics.

March 2012: End of Speak Now World Tour

In March 2012, the Speak Now World Tour, promoting Taylor Swift's 'Speak Now' album, ended.

October 2012: Release of Red

In October 2012, Taylor Swift released her fourth studio album, 'Red'.

2012: Release of Red

In 2012, Taylor Swift incorporated electronic elements into her fourth album, 'Red'.

2012: Partnership with Chegg for Good

In 2012, Taylor Swift partnered with Chegg for Good to donate $10,000 to the music departments of six US colleges, supporting music education.

2012: Songwriting and Acting

In 2012, Taylor Swift wrote and recorded "Eyes Open" and "Safe & Sound" for The Hunger Games soundtrack, with "Safe & Sound" winning a Grammy. She also featured on B.o.B's "Both of Us" and voiced a character in The Lorax.

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March 2013: Start of The Red Tour

In March 2013, The Red Tour began, promoting Taylor Swift's 'Red' album.

2013: Collaborations and Acting

In 2013, Taylor Swift wrote and produced "Sweeter than Fiction" for the One Chance soundtrack, provided vocals for Tim McGraw's "Highway Don't Care", made a cameo in New Girl.

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June 2014: Completion of The Red Tour

In June 2014, The Red Tour concluded, becoming the highest-grossing country tour upon completion.

October 2014: Release of 1989 Album

In October 2014, Taylor Swift released her fifth studio album, 1989, which opened at the top of the Billboard 200 chart, selling 1.28 million copies.

November 2014: Removal of catalog from Spotify

In November 2014, Taylor Swift removed her music catalog from free, ad-supported music streaming platforms like Spotify.

2014: Collaboration with Joseph Kahn Begins

In 2014, Taylor Swift began collaborating with director Joseph Kahn on music videos from her albums 1989 and Reputation.

2014: Supporting Role in 'The Giver'

In 2014, Taylor Swift had a supporting role in the dystopian film The Giver.

2014: Release of 1989

In 2014, Taylor Swift transitioned from country to pop with her synth-pop album '1989'.

2014: Billboard's Woman of the Year and Dick Clark Award

In 2014, Taylor Swift was named Billboard's Woman of the Year for the second time and received the inaugural Dick Clark Award for Excellence at the American Music Awards.

June 2015: Criticism of Apple Music

In June 2015, Taylor Swift criticized Apple Music for not paying royalties to artists during its free trial and threatened to remove her music. Apple Music then agreed to pay artists during the free trial.

October 4, 2015: Grammy Museum Exhibit Closure

On October 4, 2015, the Grammy Museum's exhibit honoring Taylor Swift in Los Angeles closed.

2015: Billboard Top Artist Recognition

In 2015, Taylor Swift was recognized on the year-end Billboard Top Artists list, marking the second decade she appeared on the list. In 2023 she became the first act to place number one on the year-end Billboard top artists list in three different decades (2009, 2015 and 2023)

2015: Primetime Emmy Award Win

In 2015, Taylor Swift won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactive Program for her work on AMEX Unstaged: Taylor Swift Experience.

2015: 1989 World Tour

In 2015, Taylor Swift's '1989 World Tour' became the highest-grossing tour of the year, earning $250 million.

2016: Grammy Award for "Bad Blood"

In 2016, Taylor Swift won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video for "Bad Blood".

June 2017: Return of catalog to Spotify

In June 2017, Big Machine Records returned Taylor Swift's catalog to Spotify and other free streaming platforms.

November 2017: Release of Reputation

In November 2017, Taylor Swift released her sixth studio album, Reputation, which topped charts in multiple countries and sold 1.21 million copies in the US in its first week.

2017: "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" and CMA Award

In 2017, Taylor Swift recorded "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" with Zayn Malik and won a Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year for "Better Man".

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2017: Release of Reputation

In 2017, Taylor Swift released the hip-hop-influenced album 'Reputation', inspired by media scrutiny.

November 2018: Signing with Universal Music Group

In November 2018, Taylor Swift signed a new deal with Universal Music Group, allowing her to maintain ownership of her masters and including a provision to share Spotify proceeds with artists.

2018: American Music Awards and Reputation Stadium Tour

In 2018, Taylor Swift became the most awarded female musician at the American Music Awards, surpassing Whitney Houston with 23 trophies. Her Reputation Stadium Tour also became the highest-grossing North American concert tour, grossing $345.7 million worldwide.

2018: Donation to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

In 2018, Taylor Swift donated to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, demonstrating her support for survivors of sexual assault.

2018: End of Joseph Kahn Collaboration

In 2018, Taylor Swift ended her collaboration with director Joseph Kahn on music videos from her albums 1989 and Reputation.

2018: Feature on Sugarland's "Babe"

In 2018, Taylor Swift featured on the country duo Sugarland's song "Babe".

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2018: Switch to Republic Records

In 2018, Taylor Swift switched to Republic Records.

2018: Start of Visual Media Production

In 2018, Taylor Swift's production company, Taylor Swift Productions, began producing all of her visual media, starting with the Reputation Stadium Tour concert documentary.

August 2019: Release of Lover

In August 2019, Taylor Swift released her first album with Republic Records, Lover, which topped charts in several countries and spawned five singles.

2019: Dispute with Scooter Braun

In 2019, Taylor Swift engaged in a public dispute with Scooter Braun after he purchased Big Machine Records, including the masters of her albums that the label had released.

2019: Role in Cats and "Beautiful Ghosts" Nomination

In 2019, Taylor Swift played Bombalurina in the film adaptation of Cats and co-wrote and recorded the Golden Globe-nominated song "Beautiful Ghosts" for the film.

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2019: Release of Lover

In 2019, Taylor Swift released her electropop album 'Lover'.

February 2020: Publishing Deal with Universal Music Publishing Group

In February 2020, Taylor Swift signed a global publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group after her contract with Sony/ATV expired.

November 2020: Re-recording of Back Catalog

In November 2020, Taylor Swift began re-recording her back catalog in an effort to own the new masters and licensing of her songs.

2020: Highest-Paid Musician and Miss Americana Premiere

According to Billboard, in 2020, Taylor Swift was the highest-paid musician in the US and worldwide. The documentary Miss Americana, chronicling her life, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

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2020: Exploration of Indie Styles with Folklore and Evermore

In 2020, Taylor Swift explored indie folk and indie rock styles with her albums 'Folklore' and 'Evermore,' incorporating subtle soundscapes with orchestration, muted synthesizers, and drum pads.

2020: Surprise Album Releases: Folklore and Evermore

In 2020, Taylor Swift surprised fans with the release of two indie folk albums, 'Folklore' and 'Evermore'.

2020: Exploration of Fictional Narratives

In 2020, Taylor Swift was inspired by escapism and romanticism to explore fictional narratives on her albums Folklore and Evermore, allowing her to express emotions through imagined characters and storylines.

2020: Grammy Nominations and MTV Video Music Awards

In 2020, Taylor Swift's Lover album and singles earned three nominations at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. At the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, held in 2020, she won three awards, including Video of the Year for "You Need to Calm Down".

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November 2021: Release of Red (Taylor's Version)

In November 2021, Taylor Swift released Red (Taylor's Version), which peaked atop the Billboard 200.

2021: Top-Earning Solo Artist

According to Billboard, Taylor Swift was the top-earning solo artist in the US and the top-earning musician worldwide in 2021.

2021: Donation to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

In 2021, Taylor Swift donated to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, showing her continued support.

2021: Collaborations

In 2021, Taylor Swift featured on Big Red Machine's "Renegade" and "Birch", and Haim's "Gasoline".

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2021: Songwriter Icon Award

In 2021, Taylor Swift received the Songwriter Icon Award from the National Music Publishers' Association, recognizing her significant influence in songwriting.

2021: All Too Well: The Short Film Release

In 2021, Taylor Swift released 'All Too Well: The Short Film'.

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2021: Grammy Award for Album of the Year and American Music Awards

In 2021, Taylor Swift won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for Folklore, becoming the first woman to win the award three times. At the American Music Awards, she also won three awards, including Artist of the Year.

October 2022: Release of Midnights

In October 2022, Taylor Swift released her tenth studio album, Midnights, which broke streaming records and topped charts globally. Its tracks dominated the Billboard Hot 100.

2022: Release of Midnights

In 2022, Taylor Swift experimented with pop subgenres on her album 'Midnights'.

2022: American Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards

In 2022, Taylor Swift won six American Music Awards including Artist of the Year. At the MTV Video Music Awards, she also won Video of the Year with All Too Well: The Short Film.

2022: "Carolina" and Amsterdam

In 2022, Taylor Swift wrote and recorded "Carolina" for the Where the Crawdads Sing soundtrack, which received award nominations. She also had a supporting role in the film Amsterdam.

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2022: Songwriter-Artist of the Decade

In 2022, the Nashville Songwriters Association International named Taylor Swift Songwriter-Artist of the Decade.

March 2023: Eras Tour Launch

In March 2023, Taylor Swift commenced the Eras Tour, a tour covering all her studio albums. The tour garnered extensive media coverage for its global cultural and economic impact, and its US leg broke the record for the most tickets sold in a day. Ticketmaster faced criticism for its handling of ticket sales.

October 13, 2023: Eras Tour Concert Film Release

On October 13, 2023, the concert film for the Eras Tour was released in theaters worldwide, grossing over $250 million to become the highest-grossing concert film. It was later nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement.

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October 2023: Release of 1989 (Taylor's Version)

In October 2023, Taylor Swift released 1989 (Taylor's Version), which became her sixth album to sell one million copies in a single week in the US.

2023: Ubiquitous Success

From 2023 onward, Taylor Swift experienced significant success with re-recordings, the Eras Tour, its concert film, Midnights, and The Tortured Poets Department, substantially increasing her net worth.

2023: Recognition of Stamina and Showmanship

In 2023, Adrian Horton of The Guardian noted Taylor Swift's "seemingly endless stamina" on the Eras Tour, and Ilana Kaplan of i called her showmanship "unparalleled".

2023: Most Streamed Artist and Billboard Top Artist

In 2023, Taylor Swift became the most streamed artist on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. She also became the first act to top the year-end Billboard Top Artists list in three different decades (2009, 2015, and 2023), and five of her albums were among the top 10 best-selling albums of 2023 in the US.

2023: Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers of All Time

In 2023, Taylor Swift ranked 102nd on Rolling Stone's list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time, with the publication noting that her recent releases like Folklore, Evermore, and Midnights settled the argument about her inclusion.

2023: MTV Video Music Awards and Grammy Awards

In 2023, Taylor Swift won her fourth MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year with "Anti-Hero". She won three Grammy Awards: Best Music Video for All Too Well: The Short Film and Best Pop Vocal Album and Album of the Year for Midnights.

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2023: The Eras Tour

In 2023-2024 Taylor Swift undertook the Eras Tour, which became the highest-grossing tour of all time.

February 2024: Donation to family of Kansas City shooting victim

In February 2024, Taylor Swift donated $100,000 to the family of a woman who died in a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl parade, offering support during their time of need.

April 19, 2024: Release of 'The Tortured Poets Department'

On April 19, 2024, Taylor Swift released her eleventh studio album, 'The Tortured Poets Department.' The album topped charts globally and broke records, including becoming the first album to amass 1 billion Spotify streams in a week and selling 2.6 million units in its first week in the US.

November 29, 2024: Release of "The Eras Tour Book"

On November 29, 2024, Taylor Swift released a photobook titled "The Eras Tour Book". It sold over a million copies within its first week in the US.

December 2024: Donation to Operation Breakthrough

In December 2024, Taylor Swift donated $250,000 to Operation Breakthrough, directing the funds to workforce development, childcare, and early learning programs, just a week before Christmas.