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, celebrated for her personal songwriting and artistic flexibility. As one of the best-selling music artists globally, she holds the record for the most albums selling over one million copies in their debut week in the US. Swift is also recognized as the highest-grossing touring artist and the wealthiest female musician. Notably, she is the first billionaire whose primary source of income is music.
1 day ago : Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Snowy Getaway Sparks Baby Buzz Speculation.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce enjoyed a snowy getaway. The couple dined with Erin Andrews. Baby buzz circulated following comments from former NFL players. The trip included a surprise guest.
1989: Synth-pop as Defining Sound
After the critical debate around Red's eclectic pop, rock, and electronic styles, Swift chose 1980s synth-pop as a defining sound of her pop artistry and image. The first album in this direction was 1989, which incorporates electronic arrangements consisting of dense synthesizers and drum machines.
1989: Collaboration with Joseph Kahn
From 2014 to 2018, Taylor Swift collaborated with director Joseph Kahn on eight music videos, four each from her albums 1989 and Reputation.
1989: Release of 1989 Album
In 1989, Taylor Swift released her fifth album, 1989, shifting her image from country to pop with a synth-pop sound.
1989: Electronic Processing of Vocals
On Red and 1989, Taylor Swift's vocals are electronically processed to accompany the pop production.
1989: Embracing Nostalgia and Positivity
Taylor Swift's 1989 embraced nostalgia and post-romance positivity.
1991: Luminate begins tracking US music sales
In 1991, Luminate began tracking US music sales. Taylor Swift had five out of the 10 best-selling albums of 2023 in the US, a record since Luminate began tracking US music sales in 1991.
2003: Working with Dan Dymtrow
In 2003, Taylor Swift and her parents started working with talent manager Dan Dymtrow, which led to modeling opportunities and having an original song on a Maybelline compilation CD.
2004: First Meeting with Scott Borchetta
In 2004, Taylor Swift first met Scott Borchetta, who later signed her to Big Machine Records in 2005.
2005: Attention from Scott Borchetta
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, the lead single, "Tim McGraw", from Taylor Swift's debut album was released, with promotion efforts by Swift and her mother.
October 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: Debut Album Release
In 2006, Taylor Swift debuted her first album, "Taylor Swift", marking her entry into the country music scene.
2006: Promotion of Taylor Swift Album
Throughout much of 2006, Taylor Swift promoted her debut album with a radio tour and television appearances. She also opened for Rascal Flatts on select dates during their 2006 tour, as a replacement for Eric Church.
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 focused on protecting children from online predators, showing her commitment to child safety.
2007: Touring with Live Band
Since 2007, Taylor Swift has played and toured with a live band, which is frequently incorporated into her concert productions.
November 2008: Release of Fearless
In November 2008, Taylor Swift released her second studio album, Fearless, in North America, marking a significant milestone in her career.
2008: Early Performance Review by Sasha Frere-Jones
In 2008, Sasha Frere-Jones of The New Yorker described Taylor Swift as a "preternaturally skilled" entertainer with a vibrant stage presence in a review of her early performances.
2008: Release of Fearless Album
In 2008, Taylor Swift released her second album, Fearless, which further solidified her presence in the music industry.
March 2009: International Release of Fearless
In March 2009, Taylor Swift's album Fearless was released in markets outside North America.
2009: Sydney's Sound Relief concert
In 2009, Taylor Swift performed at Sydney's Sound Relief concert, which raised money for those impacted by bushfires and flooding.
2009: Billboard top artist placement
In 2009, Taylor Swift placed number one on the year-end Billboard top artists list. She placed number one on the year-end Billboard top artists list in three different decades (2009, 2015, and 2023).
May 2010: Donation for Tennessee floods
In response to the May 2010 Tennessee floods, Taylor Swift donated $500,000.
October 2010: Release of Speak Now
In October 2010, Taylor Swift released her third studio album, Speak Now, which was written solely by her. The album sold over one million US copies in its first week and became the fastest-selling digital album by a female artist.
2010: Acting Debut
In 2010, Taylor Swift had her acting debut in Valentine's Day and recorded "Today Was a Fairytale" for the movie's soundtrack, marking her first number-one single on the Canadian Hot 100.
2010: Release of Speak Now Album
In 2010, Taylor Swift released her third album, Speak Now, incorporating rock influences into her music.
2010: Singles Released from Fearless
In 2010, three singles, including "White Horse", "Fifteen", and "Fearless", were released from Taylor Swift's album Fearless, further solidifying her success.
February 2011: Speak Now World Tour Begins
In February 2011, Taylor Swift began the Speak Now World Tour, promoting her third studio album.
2011: Developed Concept for "Mean"
In 2011, Taylor Swift developed the concept and treatment for her music video "Mean".
2011: Identification as a Songwriter
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.
2011: Speak Now tour benefit concert
In 2011, Taylor Swift used a dress rehearsal of her Speak Now tour as a benefit concert for victims of recent tornadoes in the US, raising more than $750,000.
2011: Donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
In 2011, as recipient of the Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year, Taylor Swift donated $25,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Tennessee.
March 2012: End of Speak Now World Tour
In March 2012, Taylor Swift concluded the Speak Now World Tour.
October 2012: Release of Red Album
In October 2012, Taylor Swift released her fourth studio album, Red, which incorporated eclectic styles of pop and rock and became her first number-one album in the UK.
2012: Stand Up to Cancer telethon performance
In 2012, Taylor Swift participated in the Stand Up to Cancer telethon, performing the charity single "Ronan", which she wrote in memory of a four-year-old boy who died of neuroblastoma.
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 arts and education.
2012: Release of Red Album
In 2012, Taylor Swift released her fourth album, Red, which incorporated electronic elements into her music.
2012: Wrote and recorded songs for films and featured on other artists' releases
In 2012, Taylor Swift wrote and recorded "Eyes Open" and "Safe & Sound" for The Hunger Games soundtrack, with "Safe & Sound" winning a Grammy Award. She also featured on B.o.B's "Both of Us", and voiced a character in The Lorax. From 2010 to 2013, she was romantically involved with Jake Gyllenhaal.
March 2013: Start of The Red Tour
In March 2013, Taylor Swift started The Red Tour.
2013: World's Biggest Pop Star
In 2013, New York magazine's Jody Rosen dubbed Taylor Swift the "world's biggest pop star", noting the trajectory of her stardom defied established patterns.
2013: Wrote and produced songs for films and featured on other artists' releases
In 2013, Taylor Swift wrote and produced "Sweeter than Fiction" for the One Chance soundtrack. She provided vocals for Tim McGraw's "Highway Don't Care" and made a cameo in the sitcom New Girl. From 2010 to 2013, she was romantically involved with political heir Conor Kennedy and singer Harry Styles.
June 2014: Completion of The Red Tour
In June 2014, Taylor Swift completed The Red Tour, which became the highest-grossing country tour upon its completion.
October 2014: Released the album 1989
In October 2014, Taylor Swift released her fifth studio album, 1989, which opened atop the Billboard 200 with 1.28 million copies sold.
November 2014: Removed her catalog from ad-supported, free music streaming platforms such as Spotify
In November 2014, Taylor Swift removed her catalog from ad-supported, free music streaming platforms such as Spotify after publishing an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal stressing the importance of albums.
2014: Collaboration with Joseph Kahn
From 2014 to 2018, Taylor Swift collaborated with director Joseph Kahn on eight music videos, four each from her albums 1989 and Reputation.
2014: Global Ambassador for New York City
In 2014, Taylor Swift became the global ambassador for New York City.
2014: Supporting role in the dystopian film The Giver
In 2014, Taylor Swift had a supporting role in the dystopian film The Giver, continuing her ventures into acting.
2014: Release of 1989 Album
In 2014, Taylor Swift released her fifth album, 1989, shifting her image from country to pop with a synth-pop sound.
2014: Global Recording Artist of the Year
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry ranked Taylor Swift as the Global Recording Artist of the Year for 2014.
June 2015: Criticized Apple Music for not offering royalties to artists during its free three-month trial period
In June 2015, Taylor Swift criticized Apple Music for not offering royalties to artists during its free three-month trial period and threatened to withdraw her music from the platform.
2015: Billboard top artist placement
In 2015, Taylor Swift placed number one on the year-end Billboard top artists list. She placed number one on the year-end Billboard top artists list in three different decades (2009, 2015, and 2023).
2015: DoSomething's "Gone Good" list
In 2015, Taylor Swift ranked first on DoSomething's "Gone Good" list, having received awards for her dedication to helping others.
2015: Emmy Award for AMEX Unstaged
In 2015, Taylor Swift won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactive Program for the interactive app AMEX Unstaged: Taylor Swift Experience.
2015: 1989 World Tour was the highest-grossing tour of the year
In 2015, Taylor Swift's 1989 World Tour was the highest-grossing tour of the year, earning $250 million in total revenue.
2016: BMI Awards honor
At the 64th BMI Awards in 2016, Taylor Swift was the first woman to be honored with an award named after its recipient.
2016: Top-earning female musician
Forbes named Taylor Swift the top-earning female musician in 2016.
2016: Donations to Louisiana flood relief and Dolly Parton Fire Fund
In 2016, Taylor Swift donated $1 million to Louisiana flood relief efforts and $100,000 to the Dolly Parton Fire Fund.
2016: Grammy Award for Best Music Video
In 2016, Taylor Swift produced the music video for "Bad Blood" and won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video.
June 2017: Big Machine Records returned Swift's catalog to Spotify and other free streaming platforms
In June 2017, Big Machine Records returned Taylor Swift's catalog to Spotify among other free streaming platforms.
November 2017: Released the album Reputation
In November 2017, Taylor Swift released her sixth studio album, Reputation, which opened atop the Billboard 200 with 1.21 million US sales and topped charts in the UK, Australia, and Canada.
2017: Donation to food banks
In 2017, Taylor Swift donated to food banks after Hurricane Harvey struck Houston.
2017: Recorded "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" and won a Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year
In 2017, Taylor Swift recorded "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" with Zayn Malik for the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack and won a Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year with "Better Man".
2017: Release of Reputation Album
In 2017, Taylor Swift released her sixth album, Reputation, inspired by media scrutiny and incorporating hip-hop influences.
2017: Time's Person of the Year
Taylor Swift was one of the "Silence Breakers" spotlighted as Time's Person of the Year in 2017 for speaking up about sexual assault.
November 2018: Signed a new deal with Universal Music Group
In November 2018, Taylor Swift signed a new deal with Universal Music Group, which promoted her subsequent albums under Republic Records' imprint. The contract included a provision for Swift to maintain ownership of her masters.
2018: Collaboration with Joseph Kahn
From 2014 to 2018, Taylor Swift collaborated with director Joseph Kahn on eight music videos, four each from her albums 1989 and Reputation.
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, supporting survivors of sexual violence.
2018: Featured on Sugarland's "Babe"
In 2018, Taylor Swift featured on the country duo Sugarland's song "Babe".
2018: Signing with Republic Records
In 2018, Taylor Swift shifted to Republic Records, marking a new chapter in her recording career.
2018: Production Company and Concert Documentary
Starting in 2018 with the concert documentary "Reputation Stadium Tour", Taylor Swift's production company, Taylor Swift Productions, is credited with producing all of her visual media.
August 2019: Released the album Lover
In August 2019, Taylor Swift released her first album with Republic Records, Lover, which peaked atop the charts in many countries and became the best selling album by a solo artist worldwide.
2019: Album and single sales milestone
As of 2019, Taylor Swift had amassed over 50 million album sales and 150 million single sales. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) also ranked her as the Global Recording Artist of the Year for 2019.
2019: Top-earning female musician
Forbes named Taylor Swift the top-earning female musician in 2019, with earnings of $185 million.
2019: Billboard's Greatest of All Time Artists Chart
In 2019, Taylor Swift had sold over 37.3 million albums in the US. Also in 2019, Billboard placed her eighth on its Greatest of All Time Artists Chart.
2019: Performed during WorldPride NYC
In 2019, Taylor Swift performed during WorldPride NYC at the Stonewall Inn, a gay rights monument.
2019: Played Bombalurina in the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats
In 2019, Taylor Swift played Bombalurina in the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats, for which she co-wrote and recorded the Golden Globe-nominated original song "Beautiful Ghosts".
2019: Release of Lover Album
In 2019, Taylor Swift released her seventh album, Lover, exploring electropop styles.
February 2020: Signed a global 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: Began re-recording her back catalog
In November 2020, Taylor Swift began re-recording her back catalog, enabling her to own the new masters and the licensing of her songs.
2020: Donation for Tennessee tornado relief
In 2020, Taylor Swift donated $1 million for Tennessee tornado relief.
2020: Releases of Folklore and Evermore Albums
In 2020, Taylor Swift explored indie folk styles with the releases of her albums, Folklore and Evermore.
2020: Released two surprise albums and was the highest-paid musician in the US and highest-paid solo musician worldwide
In 2020, Taylor Swift surprise-released the albums Folklore and Evermore, and Billboard named her the highest-paid musician in the US and the highest-paid solo musician worldwide. The documentary Miss Americana premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
2020: Urged fans to check voter registration
In 2020, Taylor Swift urged her fans to check their voter registration ahead of elections, which resulted in 65,000 people registering to vote within one day of her post. She also endorsed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the 2020 US presidential election.
2020: Inspiration from Escapism and Romanticism
In 2020, Taylor Swift was inspired by escapism and romanticism to explore fictional narratives in her albums Folklore and Evermore. She imposed emotions onto imagined characters and story arcs.
2020: Exploration of Indie Styles
In 2020, Taylor Swift's alternative albums Folklore and Evermore explored indie styles of rock and folk. Both incorporated a subtle, stripped-back soundscape with orchestration, synthesizers, and drum pads.
November 2021: Released Red (Taylor's Version)
In November 2021, Taylor Swift released Red (Taylor's Version), which peaked atop the Billboard 200 and was supported by "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)".
2021: Top-earning solo artist in the US and the top-earning musician worldwide
According to Billboard, in 2021, Taylor Swift was the top-earning solo artist in the US and the top-earning musician worldwide.
2021: Recording Artist of the Year
As of 2021, Taylor Swift reached 78 billion streams. Taylor Swift also earned the highest income for an artist on Chinese digital music platforms (CN¥ 159,000,000 as of 2021).
2021: Top-earning female musician
Forbes named Taylor Swift the top-earning female musician 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, continuing her support for survivors of sexual violence.
2021: Featured on Big Red Machine and Haim's songs
In 2021, Taylor Swift featured on Big Red Machine's "Renegade" and "Birch" and Haim's "Gasoline".
2021: Release of All Too Well: The Short Film
In 2021, Taylor Swift released All Too Well: The Short Film.
2021: Songwriter Icon Award
In 2021, Taylor Swift was awarded the Songwriter Icon Award by the National Music Publishers' Association, which stated that "no one is more influential when it comes to writing music today".
October 2022: Released the album Midnights
In October 2022, Taylor Swift released her tenth studio album, Midnights, which broke streaming records and made her the first artist to monopolize the top 10 of the Hot 100.
2022: Top-earning female musician
Forbes named Taylor Swift the top-earning female musician in 2022.
2022: Global Ambassador for Record Store Day
In 2022, Taylor Swift became the global ambassador for Record Store Day.
2022: Criticized US Supreme Court's abortion rights decision
In 2022, Taylor Swift criticized the US Supreme Court's decision to end federal abortion rights.
2022: Featured on Ed Sheeran's song and had a supporting role in the film Amsterdam
In 2022, Taylor Swift featured on Ed Sheeran's "The Joker and the Queen" and had a supporting role in the period comedy film Amsterdam. She also wrote and recorded "Carolina" for the soundtrack of the film Where the Crawdads Sing.
2022: Release of Midnights Album
In 2022, Taylor Swift released her tenth studio album, Midnights, experimenting with subdued pop genres.
2022: Songwriter-Artist of the Decade
In 2022, the Nashville Songwriters Association International named Taylor Swift Songwriter-Artist of the Decade.
2022: Global Recording Artist of the Year
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry ranked Taylor Swift as the Global Recording Artist of the Year for 2022.
March 2023: Embarkation on the Eras Tour
In March 2023, Taylor Swift started the Eras Tour, a retrospective tour covering all her studio albums. The Eras Tour's US leg broke the record for the most tickets sold in a day. Ticketmaster faced public and political criticism due to the tour's ticket sales mishandling. It became the highest-grossing tour in history.
October 13, 2023: Release of The Eras Tour Concert Film
On October 13, 2023, the concert film of the Eras Tour was released to theaters worldwide. It grossed over $250 million, becoming the highest-grossing concert film and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement.
October 2023: Became a billionaire
In October 2023, Taylor Swift became a billionaire, becoming the world's first musician to achieve the status "solely based on her songs and performances".
October 2023: Released 1989 (Taylor's Version)
In October 2023, Taylor Swift released 1989 (Taylor's Version), which claimed her career's largest album sales week.
October 27, 2023: Spotify streams record
On October 27, 2023, Taylor Swift received 260 million streams in one day on Spotify.
2023: Ubiquitous Success and Dating Travis Kelce
From 2023 onward, Taylor Swift experienced significant success with re-recordings, the Eras Tour, its concert film, Midnights, and The Tortured Poets Department, increasing her net worth. She also started dating American football player Travis Kelce in 2023.
2023: Endless Stamina on the Eras Tour
In 2023, Adrian Horton of The Guardian noted Taylor Swift's "seemingly endless stamina" on the Eras Tour, and i critic Ilana Kaplan called her showmanship "unparalleled".
2023: Most Streamed Artist and Year-End 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). Additionally, five of her albums were among the 10 best-selling albums of the year in the US, marking a record since Luminate began tracking music sales in 1991.
2023: Donation for Tennessee tornado relief
In 2023, Taylor Swift donated $1 million for Tennessee tornado relief.
2023: Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers of All Time List
In 2023, Taylor Swift ranked 102nd on Rolling Stone's list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. The publication noted that including her on the list a decade prior would have been controversial, but her recent releases, like Folklore, Evermore, and Midnights, solidified her place.
2023: Eras Tour and Concert Film
In 2023, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour began, becoming the highest-grossing tour of all time. Additionally, The Eras Tour concert film was released, also achieving the status of highest-grossing concert film. The Eras Tour (2023-2024) is the highest-grossing tour of all time.
2023: "Cruel Summer" reached number one
In 2023, Taylor Swift's single "Cruel Summer" from the album Lover became a resurgent success, reaching number one.
February 2024: Donation to family of 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, providing support during a time of tragedy.
April 19, 2024: Release of "The Tortured Poets Department"
On April 19, 2024, Taylor Swift's eleventh studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department", was released. The album topped charts globally, broke records by amassing 1 billion Spotify streams in a week, sold 2.6 million units in its first week in the US, made Swift the first artist to monopolize the top 14 of the Billboard Hot 100, and spent 17 weeks atop the Billboard 200. "Fortnight", featuring Post Malone, became Swift's 12th number-one song on the Hot 100.
October 2024: Richest female musician
As of October 2024, Forbes estimates Taylor Swift's net worth at $1.6 billion, making her the richest female musician in the world, and one of the wealthiest celebrities.
November 29, 2024: Release of "The Eras Tour Book"
On November 29, 2024, "The Eras Tour Book" was released and sold over a million copies in its first week in the US alone.
December 2024: Highest-grossing touring act
As of December 2024, Taylor Swift remains the world's highest-grossing touring act ever, with cumulative ticket sales at $3.12 billion, per Pollstar. The Eras Tour is the highest-grossing tour of all time and the first to surpass $1 billion in revenue.
December 2024: Donation to Operation Breakthrough
In December 2024, a week before Christmas, Taylor Swift donated $250,000 to Operation Breakthrough. The funds were directed to workforce development, childcare, and early learning programs, demonstrating her commitment to community support.
2024: Endorsed Harris and Tim Walz for election
For the 2024 election, Taylor Swift endorsed Harris and Tim Walz.
2024: Donation toward relief efforts after Hurricanes Helene and Milton
In 2024, Taylor Swift donated $5 million toward the reliefs efforts after Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.
2024: Release of The Tortured Poets Department
In 2024, Taylor Swift released her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, continuing her exploration of subdued pop genres.
2024: Billboard's Power 100 ranking
In 2024, Taylor Swift topped Billboard's annual Power 100 ranking of the top music industry executives.
2024: Artist of the Year and Most Streamed Artist
In 2024, Taylor Swift won Artist of the Year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards and was once again Spotify's most streamed artist.
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