18/04/2024
18/04/2024
LOS ANGELES, April 18: Pop sensation Taylor Swift's highly-anticipated album, "The Tortured Poets Department," has seemingly been leaked online a day before its official release, causing a frenzy among fans.
Reports have surfaced of tracks from the album being shared across various social media platforms, with some enthusiasts claiming access through a Google Drive link hosting the entire 17-song playlist. While certain Swifties have eagerly embraced the leaked music, others have emphasized the importance of patiently awaiting the album's official unveiling on Friday.
In response to the leak, the BBC has reached out to representatives of the acclaimed singer-songwriter for comment. Swift initially revealed the existence of her 11th studio album during the Grammy Awards ceremony in February, marking her first collection of entirely new material since October 2022's "Midnights."
On X, formerly known as Twitter, divergent reactions emerged from fans, with some asserting their commitment to refraining from early listening and others flooding the platform with false links to deter individuals from accessing the leaked content.
Amidst the online discourse, sentiments advocating for respect towards Swift and her team's meticulous planning for the album release surfaced. Fans voiced their eagerness to partake in the full album experience upon its official release, expressing a desire to immerse themselves in the music without prior exposure to leaked tracks.
Speculation arose among fans regarding the authenticity of the leaked tracks, with some suggesting they could be fabricated by artificial intelligence. However, previous instances of purported "AI" tracks shared online were revealed to be older, lesser-known Swift songs.
Swift's encounter with AI-generated content is not unprecedented, as X notably blocked searches for her name in January due to the circulation of explicit AI-generated images of the artist on the platform.
Anticipation for Swift's latest album has been palpable within her fan community, especially as it signals new material for the star's forthcoming blockbuster Eras tour, scheduled to kick off in Europe this summer.
While "Midnights," Swift's previous album, experienced a leak before its official release, the incident did not impede its commercial success, with the album selling 1.6 million copies in its debut week in the US and subsequently earning the coveted Album of the Year accolade at the Grammys.
Swift's recent financial milestone saw her joining the ranks of the world's wealthiest individuals, as she made her debut on the Forbes World's Billionaires List with a net worth of $1.1 billion (£877 million), alongside Sam Altman, the creator of the AI chatbot ChatGPT, who amassed $1 billion (£800 million).