Taylor Swift’s “August” returns to Billboard’s Alternative Streaming Songs chart and rises globally, while Folklore is her only album to climb this week. GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – JULY 17: EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO BOOK COVERS. Taylor Swift performs onstage during “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at Veltins Arena on July 17, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management )
Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
For weeks, Taylor Swift’s catalog has been swelling on the charts in the United States. First, her music grained thanks to the teases for her next era. Then she unloaded details about a new album — its title, The Life of a Showgirl, an October 3 release date, the cover, the works — and capped it with the announcement of her engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce.
Whenever Swift dominates the news cycle, her music follows suit on both sales platforms and streaming services… but what surges must settle. Nearly all of Swift’s titles slip on Billboard’s rankings this frame — except one late-summer staple that refuses to cool.
“August” Returns to a Billboard Chart
“August” returns to the Alternative Streaming Songs chart at No. 25, grabbing the last space on the tally. The fan favorite previously peaked at No. 3, and with this comeback it reaches a milestone 40 weeks on the streaming-only roster. The cut reappeared on many lists and soared on others as its namesake month began, and now that it’s closed, fans have returned to the cut again.
“August” Surges Globally
“August” also improves on both of Billboard’s worldwide rankings. The cut rises on the Billboard Global 200 from No. 136 to No. 119, and it advances on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. from No. 167 to No. 146. It has now spent 25 weeks on the Global Excl. U.S., and five additional frames (30 total) on the broader Billboard Global 200, which includes American consumption while the other tally does not.
“Cruel Summer” Falls as “August” Lifts
Only one other Swift single lives on Billboard’s songs lists this week. “Cruel Summer” lands at No. 67 on the Billboard Global 200 and No. 74 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S., declining by a few spots on both rosters.
All of Taylor Swift’s Albums are on the Downswing
On the albums charts, Swift appears on multiple tallies, even in a down week. The Tortured Poets Department, Lover, Reputation, Midnights, 1989 (Taylor’s Version), Red (Taylor’s Version), 1989, Evermore, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), and Fearless (Taylor’s Version) all fall this frame from where they sat just days ago.
The lone exception is Folklore. The set improves three spaces on Top Streaming Albums chart, leaping from No. 25 to No. 22 just after celebrating its first year on that roster. Elsewhere, the surprise release does decline, but it’s the only title in Swift’s catalog to gain even a bit of ground.