Can Taylor Swift Single-Handedly Reverse the Vinyl Downturn?

Photo Credit: TaylorSwift.com Store

Taylor Swift is already reversing the fortunes of AMC movie theaters nationwide. So why not vinyl, which is now declining in the US?

If you’re a hardcore Swiftie, you’re probably buying some Taylor Swift vinyl this year. That’s not a far-fetched prediction: according to DMN’s intel, Swifties have already gobbled up hundreds of thousands of limited-edition LPs of her upcoming album, The Life of a Showgirl, before the official release date.

And there’s more vinyl on the way. But can Taylor sell enough vinyl LPs to save the format from its first decline in nearly two decades?

Ahead of the October 3rd release of The Life of a Showgirl, Taylor Swift took a page out of the Pokémon handbook with a new ‘Shiny Bug Collection’ limited edition album. The release was supposed to be available for 48 hours, but ended up selling out in less than an hour across different markets worldwide — with the US accounting for the largest share of sales.

The Life of a Showgirl: Shiny Bug Collection came in two versions—one featuring a violet shimmer design, and the other a wintergreen and onyx marble. Both versions have the same track list as the mainline album, which shifts to focus to the unique packaging.

Is the Vinyl Comeback Officially Over?

But those are just two vinyl releases among many. There’s also the Baby, That’s Show Business Collection, which also has two variations, and the Tiny Bubbles in Champagne Collection, with moneyed Swifties undoubtedly trying to grab multiple variations.

Topping it off — for now — is the The Crowd is Your King Edition (Summertime Spritz Pink Shimmer Vinyl), a Target exclusive, as well as the ‘standard’ release, the Sweat and Vanilla Perfume Portofino Orange Glitter Vinyl.

Exactly how many of these purchased vinyls will get played on actual record players is anyone’s guess. But that’s immaterial. Because when it comes to sales, Taylor Swift could singlehandedly transform a moribund LP sales year in the US.

DMN Pro has been tracking the slowdown of vinyl for the past two years. But this year, LP and EP sales in the US are actually starting to decline.

After an 18-year run, vinyl LP and EP sales are now declining (Source: RIAA)

Suddenly, after an 18-year comeback in the US, sales are slipping.

According to the RIAA’s first-half 2025 numbers, vinyl sales dropped a slight 0.1% year-over-year, both in terms of unit sales and overall revenue.

So what’s going on? That question is explored in our most recent DMN Pro report; however, it’s important to note that this might be a temporary slowdown. If not, several possible factors may be at play, including market saturation, collector fatigue, increased consumer price sensitivity, and broader generational shifts.

Those are potentially serious factors, though Taylor’s blitz of LPs just might keep the US-based vinyl industry in the black — at least for 2025.