Is Taylor Swift‘s 12th album releasing soon? Swifties are convinced so.
Beginning on Friday, July 18, Swift’s social media team, Taylor Nation, began posting listening parties for all of her previous albums, starting with her debut album Taylor Swift.
“Welcome home, self titled. 💚 Dive into our favorite memories on the new Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour archival site #SelfTitledEraTSTheErasTour,” Taylor Nation wrote via Instagram, alongside photos from Swift’s debut era. “Everything we need is finally right here by our side and to celebrate, stream the album with us at 1pm EDT today stationhead.com/taylornation.”
In the days following, Taylor Nation hosted listening parties for Fearless, Speak Now, Red, and 1989.
On Tuesday, July 22, a Swift fan page posted a theory on X which said that the listening parties are a countdown to the singer’s new album, placing the release date on Tuesday, July 29.
“Debut– 1pm ☑️ Fearless– 2pm ☑️ , Speak Now– 3pm ☑️ , Red– 4pm, 1989– 5pm ☑️ , Reputation– 6 pm 👀👀👀👀👀👀, Lover– 7pm, Folklore– 8pm, Evermore– 9pm, Midnights– 10pm, TTPD- 11pm, TS12– 12am 👀👀👀👀,” the fan wrote.
Many Swfties in the replies agreed with the theory – though some offered alternative options. Some speculated the countdown was for the highly-anticipated re-recording of Swift’s 6th studio album reputation – though the pop star claimed in May she hasn’t even re-recorded “a quarter of it.”
Others theorized that it could be something in celebration of the 5-year anniversary of folklore, Swift’s highly-acclaimed 8th studio album which released on July 24, 2020.
The mysterious countdown comes less than two months after Swift announced she owns her entire discography, following a years-long public battle with talent manager Scooter Braun.
“I almost stopped thinking it could ever happen, after 20 years of having the carrot dangled and then yanked away,” she wrote in a letter shared via her official website. “But, that’s all in the past now… I really get to say these words: All of the music I’ve ever made now belongs to me.”
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