Taylor Swift surpasses Madonna to become female artist with most UK number one albums

Taylor Swift has surpassed Madonna to become the female artist with the most UK number one albums as she topped the chart for the 13th time.

The US superstar, 35, has achieved the biggest opening week of the year so far after releasing a new heart-shaped vinyl issue of her Lover (Live In Paris) record ahead of Valentine’s Day on Friday.

The album, which includes renditions of songs she performed at the one-off City Of Lover concert in the French capital in 2019, achieved 47,000 unit sales this week, according to the Official Charts Company.

Swift had previously been tied with US star Madonna, 66, with both having achieved 12 number ones each.

The Cruel Summer singer now draws level with Elvis Presley as the international artist with the most chart-topping albums in UK chart history.

Taylor Swift had previously been tied with US star Madonna (Doug Peters/PA) PA Media

The Beatles and Robbie Williams currently hold the joint crown for the most for any act, with 15 number ones apiece, while The Rolling Stones have 14 to their name.

Lover (Live In Paris)’s spike in sales makes it the first album to top the charts on pure sales, with no streams contributing to its total, in eight years.

The last time it was achieved was by Swift with her album Reputation in 2017 which she only added to streaming services three weeks after its initial release on physical and download formats.

The record, originally released on vinyl in limited quantity in 2023, has achieved the biggest week of sales for a live vinyl album this century and biggest weekly sales for a live album in more than ten years in the UK, since George Michael’s Symphonica in 2014.

Chief executive of Official Charts, Martin Talbot, said: “If we thought Taylor Swift would peak in 2024, with her domination of the charts during the summer, we couldn’t have been more wrong.

“What an amazing achievement to surpass the albums chart record of Madonna, such a huge music icon.”

Madonna has achieved 12 number one albums (Isabel Infantes/PA) PA Media

Elsewhere in the chart, Dublin-formed band Inhaler shot up the charts to number two with their new album Open Wide.

US rapper Kendrick Lamar’s sixth studio album GNX has also climbed from 31st to third in the charts following his Super Bowl halftime show performance.

Canadian rapper The Weeknd’s latest release, Hurry Up Tomorrow, has dropped from number one to fourth, while US pop star Sabrina Carpenter has claimed the fifth spot with Short N’ Sweet after the singer won the best pop vocal album award at the Grammys.

Over in the singles chart, British rising star Lola Young has held on to the top spot with her viral hit Messy.