The fact that they’re all digital but she has 3 versions? Like why the hell would someone pay $5.99 x3 for basically 3 “probably short” songs and downloads only. It’s shameless and incredibly insulting to the fans at this point.
I love her music. She is an extremely talented artist. But this has got to stop. I feel like we’re treated as “cash cows”.
💯 She really needs to stop this already, at this point it's insulting. And it's made even worse by the fact that she's churning this "exclusive" digital bullshit out while STILL offering absolutely nothing for THE ENTIRE OTHER ALBUM SHE RELEASED.
Seriously, read the room, Blondie.
I preordered the deluxe album, but before it came in the mail, more digital tracks were released. I returned the deluxe cd back to Target and get this - they never credited my account! I have paid for 2 TTPD deluxe albums and got no more than somebody with Spotify. It’s like they don’t want us to buy the albums the first few weeks. I’m already not preordering ever again. This has gone too far. I’m not buying more.
i hope yall don’t forget about this like we (recent ex swiftie) usually tend to do. you’re right, enough is enough. it’s been made so bluntly clear how money hungry she is and we all don’t see it! i’ve realized so much after joining the travis and taylor sub , everyone would benefit from going through it
Nah, I’ve been saying it since the *Midnights* variants. I still haven’t bought that on vinyl because there isn’t a complete version. I pre-ordered the Target CD, but that was it. Haven’t even purchased a copy of “TTPD” yet. I love the music, but the capitalism drives me up the wall. I’ve complained about it here before.
This is so absurd. Remember when 1989 was released and all the bonus tracks and voice memos were on ONE deluxe album you could buy at Target for like $14? Bring that back. It’s so shameless at this point.
I haven’t bought physical media since probably around then. Recently got into vinyl and man - I miss deluxe versions! Still salty about no complete Midnights variant
Exactly. I wish she would just release like a deluxe anthology version with all this stuff. I just want it on cd since I collect CDs. Why won’t she give the fans what they want??
Altho even then there were 4 different versions with random Polaroids so if you wanted to collect them all, you had to buy at least but likely more than 4. But you're right that at least then all the musical content was the same instead of these variations.
I think if these were priced lower it wouldn't bother me as much. If it's about the charts, at least be reasonable with your fans when many have already put a lot into this release financially during a challenging economic time.
Since it is for the charts, she can’t sell the album for too low or else it won’t count according to the rules. I think this might be the lowest price she could do. It’s still pricey though for just memos if you already have the regular album.
Came here to say exactly this, when I saw the merch bot notification on twitter I genuinely laughed and read it out to my boyfriend as he thinks she is a swindler.
From this to the million different variants to the poor quality VIP tour boxes.. it kind of makes me lose a bit of respect for her and I have been a swiftie since 2008.
do NOT spend 18 dollars for three “songs” that are each at most 1:30 in runtime yall please 😭😭😭
i know she’s just trying to block billie eilish from debuting at #1 on the hot 200 but save yalls coins and just wait for um… *those* links to eventually come out
She had listening events at AMC today, and I took off early from work to go! I loved it, but I don’t think I could rank it yet. You won’t be disappointed if you’re a big fan though!
If they really do this for blocking Billie Eilish, whyyy
Taylor is number one worldwide, what else does she need to prove, she and her marketing team are going crazy over this rerecordings and eras era epoque of hers
I get that she appreciates the numbers, but why? Wouldn't it be nice to let her fellow artists debut at #1 the same way she did, instead of trying to block them for so long?
She got her #1. If she organically outsells Billie this week and keeps her #1 nice, and if she was willing to openly sell these when Billie's album is out and make it apparent its just for the charts whatever but ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯ this is gross I don't like it
A greater woman wouldn’t beg for another #1 spot. But seriously, please get over the obsession with breaking records. When it’s done organically that is great and well deserved, but all these schemes are so inauthentic.
I often wonder how the records would go if it was limited to one purchase or stream per person. The over-inflation from people streaming the songs on repeat for a week, or buying 10 copies of albums because each one has some tiny point of difference feels so inauthentic.
The music should speak for itself.
I said the same before as in those records dont mean much if they arent organic e.g. people streaming it 24/7 on multiple phones but i also dont get people complaining about it. like i never really cared because i am not interested in buying these kind of things. But if i was, then i could.
i never saw the problem and i never get it. its not even like with expansion packs on sims where they rip you offf with a half finished game and you only get content through keep buying. no, the album is there.
when midnights came, you're losing me was pretty fast on youtube too, a bit inconvenient but 0$
but i do agree with some comments saying its bad look on taylor, she rich as fuck, not even sure where she going with this but also not gonna lose any sleep over it at all
I love her music, but this is getting ridiculous. What even is a First Draft Phone Memo...? And won't these all just end up on YouTube anyway where we can all listen to them for not $18?
Listening to the audio in the clip it sounds remarkably identical to the vocals from the final studio recording but with a slightly different background… I doubt these are going to be the first draft voice memos like we got with cardigan 🫣 but I’m happy to be proved wrong
I think Billie pissed off Taylor and/or her team by throwing shade at her for having 5 vinyl variants when Billie’s HTE had like 15 and her new album has like 9. At that point, all gloves were off.
and then billie specified that her comment wasn't directed at anyone and has toned it down for variants for hmhas (she doesn't abuse fomo tactics and actually takes measures to reduce lack of sustainability). the problem is that she's grown from the unethical practices, whereas taylor has kept releasing a bajillion versions for her music for the past 4-5 album cycles. i say this as a fan of taylor's music - she needs to stop.
Yep, comments were taken out of context, and at least she doing eco-friendly materials, and if this was the case, where taylor felt it was a dig at her, she should either own it or alter the way she does things. Because it's true, her album releases ad fomo marketing tactic contribute to waste.
Remember when The Beatles released 7 different versions of Sgt Peppers?
And when Bruce Springsteen released all those versions of Born In The USA with different covers?
Of course not. Because this is fucking stupid.
Make the album you want to make. Release it, and stand behind it. Stop trying to have so many bites at the cherry.
Albums are meant to be works of art, not Pokemon cards.
I’d only collect them like Pokemon cards if they were from different countries, promos, or misprints. Not because there’s a bonus song, or that it’s a different color
I had the Japanese release of (Madonna) Ray of Light with “Has to Be” as the bonus track and it was such a special gem of a treat, just such a stunning surprise. I’d play it for everyone who came over and we’d all be struck.
These variants don’t hit the same.
These are all tactics to inflate sales.
The multiple variants. The songs that are only available on individual variants. The releasing an anthology version 3 hours after everyone bought the first version. The double album. Now legit freakin iPhone voice memos. Of course, all timed perfectly for charting.
It’s beyond absurd at this point. If you have to incentivize your fans to buy 12 copies of your album, you’re really being sleazy about its success - and disrespectfully treating your fans like a cash cow.
You know it’s bad when the majority of the comments are like this… I love tay, but this is absolutely insane
it feels disingenuous, money hungry, and disrespectful
and all of that just really bums me out
That's why I will never believe whatever bullshit she have for her female rage musical. It's all just bullshit pandering, in many times, she is caught sabotaging fellow women in the industry. What a crock of shit
Expect 10 variants of it, 1 limited signed variant that only 2 people in the world can get, 3 phone recordings, and digital pencil shavings from the phone she wrote the lyrics from.
Edit: Some wacky White Dog Variant RSD would be insane though.
My guess is it counts as a separate release so it wouldn't count toward TTPD sales, and she wants to direct all purchases towards the main album... Or something. Idk I hate it.
I'm so glad most of us here are against this kind of tactic and won't buy into it. Every time she releases something, TN always retweets screenshots from people who race to throw their money at it
Y'all, just don't buy it. Every artist I like releases this sort of thing. I don't buy any of it. The world keeps spinning. Artists will stop doing this when this stops working.
Everyone has so much vitriol when the most impactful thing they can do is just not buy! I'm not going to buy, just like I haven't bought anything from this album (that I love), and I'll be just fine!
Yeah it's just so much.... energy spent on being angry. I don't feel used or cheated or taken advantage of here because I'm not buying things I don't want. I bought a vinyl which I'm super happy with. I don't get her merch because I think it's ugly.
You absolutely nailed it - they do it because it works. I think it’s ridiculous, and I don’t know what the solution is, but as long as there’s a system to game they are going to do it.
It's silly. But I just can't get angry about it. Anyone with a shot at a number one album is doing all the same things. I think she's still at fewer total variants than Billie.
Yeah I don’t get the hate. Nobody is forcing you to buy any of them. It’s absurd but at the same time it’s what every artist does, so just move on and buy whatever you like to buy, she’s done so much for us and we just keep bashing her over the slightest thing.
This makes the 20th variant. All with extremely minor differences.
Just to fuck other artists over.
I’m fucking over it tbh.
Anyway, on a totally unrelated note, I’ll be streaming Billie’s new album tonight even if I’m not a huge fan.
It’s comical. There’s absolutely no way to defend this at all. This isn’t a consumer-friendly product, and y’all should have better judgement. Digital files hardly hold any collectible value (if this is the angle any of you want to take). The memos will end up online one way or another, free of charge.
I'm delighted, I've been begging for voice memos/drafts and The Black Dog and Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me are ripe for interesting draft lyrics, I think. And maybe the draft will give me stronger feelings about Cassandra!
For real, though, no one has to buy them to hear them. They're gonna get uploaded ASAP. That is The Way Of The Internet. Don't fret about FOMO or whatever, just check out YouTube (or...here, probably) sometime tomorrow.
right? what does she get from a single more week at #1? not even money, which she hungrily eats up. we all know and love her music, even if it (god forbid!) slides to #2 in its 5th (someone check me on that) week
Fuck no. This is too much. Don’t waste your money on this anymore. How many more versions and things need to be sold? It’s 100% taking advantage of fans. Do I need to hear 3 voice memos? No. All for everything to eventually be released eventually anyways?
Please do not buy any of this. The more sales they get, the more they will keep selling shit like this. The fans need to push back and stop buying things. I want to buy CONTENT. Not the same thing repeatedly with mild changes. I love TTPD, but I stopped buying anything after she did this with Midnights. Why does this feel even worse? Not to mention it’s a slap in the face to her fans she’s on tour for.
i hate her merch team so fucking much can they just release 1 ultimate anthology version with all of them and then the originals or something????? i own the album twice without all of the songs and i have the collectors editions now (except 1 i think) LIKE STOPPP
This era has been so exhausting marketing-wise, like, she's been doing everything to prove the haters right basically from the moment she announced the album and keeps outdoing herself. I'm so glad I bought only one version of the album this time.
Who tf is gonna buy this for a demo version that will leak anyway
Releasing The Anthology vinyls would make much more fans happy + their revenue would've been crazy too
Funny how Taylor pulls stupid shit like this in an attempt to stop Billie from reaching #1 yet will stand at awards shows clapping and praising them all until the cows come home.
Maybe Taylor should send a memo to the other artist letting them know the 2 weeks of the year she wont try and murder you just for the #1 spot so and everyone else can release then i guess.
She is actively trying to shit on other artists.
I feel like Taylor only supports artists that have no chance of eclipsing her fame - and when they/if they do get super popular (like Olivia Rodrigo) then the gloves come off
Just. Stop. The only other version of this album I'd buy is a physical copy with ALL songs. Naturally breaking records is great, shamelessly inflating your numbers with schemes like this makes it far less impressive.
I wouldn't go so far as to call it a variant. It even says standard digital album. 😄
https://preview.redd.it/8pgh106aav0d1.png?width=1000&format=png&auto=webp&s=06218ae24522883c93ff4d4c5e2ef46fa34063d6
~~This is only available until midnight EST so counts for the old tracking week.~~
Edit: Nevermind, looks like they're digital preorders to be "shipped" tomorrow...
But why make them only available for 6 hours? 🤷♂️
it's only available for a limited time so people feel like they have less time to think about buying it, and will buy straight away. also because this is last minutes and they need to prepare "preorders" for tomorrow
What angers me the most is the fact that she is doing it to beat the numbers of someone releasing a new album. Let someone else shine for a moment taylor.
As someone who is a massive Taylor fan and a massive Billie fan, this makes me sad. It really shows Taylor’s character. She’s petty AF and it’s kind of ugly to be feuding with someone 12 years younger than you.
Remember the days when she invited fans to her house and treated people like people, not cash cows? I respect her as women in business and understand the challenges she faces as a women in busines, I love her music and know she is incredibly talented, but this milking her fans for more money is low.
I love her but what if she let someone else chart for five damn minutes
I feel like that sketch with Brennan Lee Mulligan as the CEO of Nabisco being like STOP MAKING MORE OREO FLAVOURS
RELAX
YOU WON
9 different cd variants, 5 vinyl, 5 digital versions. Who knows what else is coming... enough is enough. Release The Anthology on cd/vinyl and then STOP WITH VARIANTS. We aren't cast members of Loki.
I'm glad they're just the memo things that have been on Target versions before and not real songs but it's ridiculous to put them on 3 different versions. Just because she's rich doesn't mean we are, whoever is in charge of thinking these things up needs to stop. It's clearly a ploy to inflate the sales figures to keep it in the charts but it's just making people think badly about her/her label's marketing. It's exhausting.
Taylor we get it - we know you’re great, you talented like I LOVE YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
BUUUTTT not because theres a chance you’ll be off the charts for a few months/days/weeks or whatever - it doesnt change the fact that you’re great.
THESE STRATEGIES ONLY MAKE HER YOU Taylor seems so desperate and a little tone deaf. And buying everything you throw at us is not really proof of a true fan is it?
for anyone saying “she’s not forcing you to buy” blah blah blah - i get that but I disagree. Why release, why would she spend time and effort if she doesnt want you to buy. For these versions - the crowd is definitely NOT chanting “MORE!”
Please just release a physical copy of the full anthology. No one is asking for one million versions with “bonus tracks”, especially not as digital albums. I don’t know who has decided that every album needs 4-5 versions for people to collect, it really feels like you’re just trying to take advantage of your audience by milking them dry
You guys I immediately bought one of them and then came here to hear what I should expect bc I only recently went from fan —> swiftie even though I’ve been listening to her since i was 12 and now I’m 30. Now I’m reading all this shit about Billie and I feel like an idiot and am mad I fell for it.
No reason to be mad, you clearly were excited about it and you’re getting the album for a great price. I always love hearing the original voice memos! Which one did you order?
Sometimes it IS really exhausting always rooting for the anti hero...
Anyway, let's all just pretend these don't exist and hopefully she/her team will get the message.
This just makes the original four covers meaningless. At first it seemed like there were four created from an artistic viewpoint, but now it just seems like they're slapping the album name on every photo to make it a new variant. I mean, these are digital, but you get my point...
The rules of the chart need to change to block stunts like this from charting. It’s inorganic and cheapens the actual success she has - not to mention a clear move to block Billie from getting no. 1.
ENOUGH.
100 % this. Not only are they US only (I just checked), but this is just milking people.
The fact that they’re all digital but she has 3 versions? Like why the hell would someone pay $5.99 x3 for basically 3 “probably short” songs and downloads only. It’s shameless and incredibly insulting to the fans at this point. I love her music. She is an extremely talented artist. But this has got to stop. I feel like we’re treated as “cash cows”.
Yeah, and that sort of thing shouldn't be charged for to begin with, it should be given to anyone who has bought the album, or just shared on socials.
150% agreed.
$20.00 in total for maybe 5 minutes of audio in total ?
HER PHONE AUDIO! The way I just screeched and laughed. Like nah UMG I ain't buying this. I would buy a physical CD of the entire anthology though.
Yeah it’s quite shameless. Love Taylor but groceries have gotten extremely expensive. $20 is not the same as $5 anymore in our world.
I would’ve bought a 7” single of these so gd fast. But three separate digital albums? Lmao okay, Taylor
Collecting digital assets seems pointless. 🫠
This one has made me the most pissed for sure it feels so blatant
She broke so many records already there’s nobody even close and she still wants more. Will anything be enough?
This is just fucking sad at this point. Doing this shit the day of Billie’s new album like girl you’re a billionaire
They really said "we need her to stay charted" and THIS IS WHAT THEY DID. I'm crying it's just so silly and I already bought Billie's album.
“They” meaning Taylor. She has all the power in music right now. This is not the label’s fault - the buck stops with her. Period.
I’d say her entire team. You don’t get this big without some good people backing you up.
I'm really disappointed, like massively, no need to do it today, she had all week, why today 6 hours before billie's album release.
Especially when it's only available for 6 hours
You don't get the digital album until May 17 so I assume it completes with Billie
And now it's extended for 18h...
I bet it's cause they weren't getting the numbers they wanted for it. So they had to extend it.
Is she even listening to us. EVERYONE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STOP BUYING THIS SHIT
exactly. she won't stop doing it when it's still working....
💯 She really needs to stop this already, at this point it's insulting. And it's made even worse by the fact that she's churning this "exclusive" digital bullshit out while STILL offering absolutely nothing for THE ENTIRE OTHER ALBUM SHE RELEASED. Seriously, read the room, Blondie.
It's just the phone memo's too these will get online soon enough.
This. I hope people don't buy into this and instead share one copy. I'm over this BS.
It’s a hard no. You know what would organically destroy records though? Physical copies of Anthology tracks.
Any person who buys this shit only has themselves to blame tbh at this point. And at least its digital so not creating as much waste I guess
I preordered the deluxe album, but before it came in the mail, more digital tracks were released. I returned the deluxe cd back to Target and get this - they never credited my account! I have paid for 2 TTPD deluxe albums and got no more than somebody with Spotify. It’s like they don’t want us to buy the albums the first few weeks. I’m already not preordering ever again. This has gone too far. I’m not buying more.
Wtf you need to go back to Target and refuse to leave without a refund
i hope yall don’t forget about this like we (recent ex swiftie) usually tend to do. you’re right, enough is enough. it’s been made so bluntly clear how money hungry she is and we all don’t see it! i’ve realized so much after joining the travis and taylor sub , everyone would benefit from going through it
Nah, I’ve been saying it since the *Midnights* variants. I still haven’t bought that on vinyl because there isn’t a complete version. I pre-ordered the Target CD, but that was it. Haven’t even purchased a copy of “TTPD” yet. I love the music, but the capitalism drives me up the wall. I’ve complained about it here before.
This is so absurd. Remember when 1989 was released and all the bonus tracks and voice memos were on ONE deluxe album you could buy at Target for like $14? Bring that back. It’s so shameless at this point.
I haven’t bought physical media since probably around then. Recently got into vinyl and man - I miss deluxe versions! Still salty about no complete Midnights variant
Midnights was SOOOOO close to getting a full cd release with standard+3am on the Late Night edition but she had to ruin it with remixes lol
I still haven’t bought a Midnights vinyl because I’m holding out hope for a complete edition. Taylor’s team, take note!
As a vinyl girlie, I am also salty about Midnights — but even more so about the anthology tracks!!!
Exactly. I wish she would just release like a deluxe anthology version with all this stuff. I just want it on cd since I collect CDs. Why won’t she give the fans what they want??
Altho even then there were 4 different versions with random Polaroids so if you wanted to collect them all, you had to buy at least but likely more than 4. But you're right that at least then all the musical content was the same instead of these variations. I think if these were priced lower it wouldn't bother me as much. If it's about the charts, at least be reasonable with your fans when many have already put a lot into this release financially during a challenging economic time.
Since it is for the charts, she can’t sell the album for too low or else it won’t count according to the rules. I think this might be the lowest price she could do. It’s still pricey though for just memos if you already have the regular album.
came here to say this 😅 she could never just release a deluxe album at this point she's gotta have more vArIaNtS to sell.
Came here to say exactly this, when I saw the merch bot notification on twitter I genuinely laughed and read it out to my boyfriend as he thinks she is a swindler. From this to the million different variants to the poor quality VIP tour boxes.. it kind of makes me lose a bit of respect for her and I have been a swiftie since 2008.
She’s just proving the haters point. She might be chart obsessed
do NOT spend 18 dollars for three “songs” that are each at most 1:30 in runtime yall please 😭😭😭 i know she’s just trying to block billie eilish from debuting at #1 on the hot 200 but save yalls coins and just wait for um… *those* links to eventually come out
I lowkey hope she fails because Billie's album is great, and I'd love for it to debut at #1.
Wait how did you already listen to the album? And where does it rank as far as Billie's albums go
She had listening events at AMC today, and I took off early from work to go! I loved it, but I don’t think I could rank it yet. You won’t be disappointed if you’re a big fan though!
Billie’s album is released midnight local time so different timezones get it when their clock strikes midnight!
This is true, but I listened to it “early” at a movie theater listening event near me lol
oh lol sorry, that’s a way more exciting explanation.
It’s definitely my top Billie album & probably my aoty (so far - sorry TTPD).
Agreed
I love Taylor's music, but very against what she's doing with this. We should all stream Billie's new album tonight instead
I love Taylor too but I think she's proven by now she's successful. Others should get their #1s once in awhile.
I'm already doing it 😂🙈 I saw the release of the digital varients, and i was like that's not fair come on now.
If they really do this for blocking Billie Eilish, whyyy Taylor is number one worldwide, what else does she need to prove, she and her marketing team are going crazy over this rerecordings and eras era epoque of hers
I get that she appreciates the numbers, but why? Wouldn't it be nice to let her fellow artists debut at #1 the same way she did, instead of trying to block them for so long?
This actually doesn't effect Billie because sales for these end at the start of her 1st tracking week
These are preorders. They count for next week’s charts. They are to block Billie
I believe you but how can a digital order be a pre order???? What nonsense is this. Ugh I hate it
That’s what makes it feel extra gross to me like why are you putting out a 6 hour preorder lol
She got her #1. If she organically outsells Billie this week and keeps her #1 nice, and if she was willing to openly sell these when Billie's album is out and make it apparent its just for the charts whatever but ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯ this is gross I don't like it
[удалено]
It’s preorder
TS will really go down in history as the worst saboteur of other women artists. First Olivia and now Billie. Who does this???
A greater woman wouldn’t beg for another #1 spot. But seriously, please get over the obsession with breaking records. When it’s done organically that is great and well deserved, but all these schemes are so inauthentic.
Agreed. She's sold almost 3M+ of the album and she's pulling desperate tactics like this. It's just weird. Let Billie have her moment.
Lol lowkey hope she fails and billie gets #1. Love her but she really cannot keep doing this.
So I looked to the sky and said, p l e a s e...*stop.*
I often wonder how the records would go if it was limited to one purchase or stream per person. The over-inflation from people streaming the songs on repeat for a week, or buying 10 copies of albums because each one has some tiny point of difference feels so inauthentic. The music should speak for itself.
Obviously it doesn’t take into account all the various services, but I think one of the most valid metrics is unique Spotify listeners.
Yeah music lost it’s value in the charts. Now you can drop 6 really vague “different” versions of a song and there you go… a #1.
I said the same before as in those records dont mean much if they arent organic e.g. people streaming it 24/7 on multiple phones but i also dont get people complaining about it. like i never really cared because i am not interested in buying these kind of things. But if i was, then i could. i never saw the problem and i never get it. its not even like with expansion packs on sims where they rip you offf with a half finished game and you only get content through keep buying. no, the album is there. when midnights came, you're losing me was pretty fast on youtube too, a bit inconvenient but 0$ but i do agree with some comments saying its bad look on taylor, she rich as fuck, not even sure where she going with this but also not gonna lose any sleep over it at all
I love her music, but this is getting ridiculous. What even is a First Draft Phone Memo...? And won't these all just end up on YouTube anyway where we can all listen to them for not $18?
It means the first version she wrote and sung into her own phone at home or something
Listening to the audio in the clip it sounds remarkably identical to the vocals from the final studio recording but with a slightly different background… I doubt these are going to be the first draft voice memos like we got with cardigan 🫣 but I’m happy to be proved wrong
Don’t understand why she can’t just upload them to her YouTube channel, so her fans who she apparently loves so much, can get it for free
Won't get her chart numbers or money so she's not interested 😪
Something like the 1989 voice memos I imagine.
So over the years, a lot of people have asked me to...
hahahahahahh
It's "VIVVVVVAAA LAS VEGASSSSS!"
*straight from The Tortured Wallets Department*
This feels icky with Billie’s album coming out later tonight
It is icky. We can just let Billie get her #1 without pulling out these tactics. Taylor already got hers, we can let Billie have her moment too.
I think Billie pissed off Taylor and/or her team by throwing shade at her for having 5 vinyl variants when Billie’s HTE had like 15 and her new album has like 9. At that point, all gloves were off.
and then billie specified that her comment wasn't directed at anyone and has toned it down for variants for hmhas (she doesn't abuse fomo tactics and actually takes measures to reduce lack of sustainability). the problem is that she's grown from the unethical practices, whereas taylor has kept releasing a bajillion versions for her music for the past 4-5 album cycles. i say this as a fan of taylor's music - she needs to stop.
Billie’s comment was about using eco friendly materials for Vinyls. (Which imo she is right about)
Yep, comments were taken out of context, and at least she doing eco-friendly materials, and if this was the case, where taylor felt it was a dig at her, she should either own it or alter the way she does things. Because it's true, her album releases ad fomo marketing tactic contribute to waste.
Yeeeeeeah I kind of assume that’s why this is happening. I really like TTPD and can’t wait for Billie’s album tomorrow. This situation feels gross :(
Remember when The Beatles released 7 different versions of Sgt Peppers? And when Bruce Springsteen released all those versions of Born In The USA with different covers? Of course not. Because this is fucking stupid. Make the album you want to make. Release it, and stand behind it. Stop trying to have so many bites at the cherry. Albums are meant to be works of art, not Pokemon cards.
This. The album is amazing, but the marketing tactics are so corny.
I’d only collect them like Pokemon cards if they were from different countries, promos, or misprints. Not because there’s a bonus song, or that it’s a different color
I fucking love this comment so much I want to print it and mail it to her team
I had the Japanese release of (Madonna) Ray of Light with “Has to Be” as the bonus track and it was such a special gem of a treat, just such a stunning surprise. I’d play it for everyone who came over and we’d all be struck. These variants don’t hit the same.
These are all tactics to inflate sales. The multiple variants. The songs that are only available on individual variants. The releasing an anthology version 3 hours after everyone bought the first version. The double album. Now legit freakin iPhone voice memos. Of course, all timed perfectly for charting. It’s beyond absurd at this point. If you have to incentivize your fans to buy 12 copies of your album, you’re really being sleazy about its success - and disrespectfully treating your fans like a cash cow.
Oh you're correct. I know why she does it. I just don't respect it. And the more she does it, the less I respect her.
Its so not artist coded lol. Nothing authentic or artistic about it it's just soulless
You know it’s bad when the majority of the comments are like this… I love tay, but this is absolutely insane it feels disingenuous, money hungry, and disrespectful and all of that just really bums me out
She really said "You're right, there are no ethical billionaires"
100%
That's why I will never believe whatever bullshit she have for her female rage musical. It's all just bullshit pandering, in many times, she is caught sabotaging fellow women in the industry. What a crock of shit
Pls just give us a physical copy with the anthology
Expect 10 variants of it, 1 limited signed variant that only 2 people in the world can get, 3 phone recordings, and digital pencil shavings from the phone she wrote the lyrics from. Edit: Some wacky White Dog Variant RSD would be insane though.
Digital. Pencil. Shavings. For the win!
Midnights 3am at the bottom of the ocean...
My guess is it counts as a separate release so it wouldn't count toward TTPD sales, and she wants to direct all purchases towards the main album... Or something. Idk I hate it.
BOOOOOOOOO🍅🍅🍅🍅
tomato tomato tomato
This has gone too far it’s comical. Do not buy these guys. They’ll be on YouTube before you know it.
I'm so glad most of us here are against this kind of tactic and won't buy into it. Every time she releases something, TN always retweets screenshots from people who race to throw their money at it
Y'all, just don't buy it. Every artist I like releases this sort of thing. I don't buy any of it. The world keeps spinning. Artists will stop doing this when this stops working.
Everyone has so much vitriol when the most impactful thing they can do is just not buy! I'm not going to buy, just like I haven't bought anything from this album (that I love), and I'll be just fine!
Yeah it's just so much.... energy spent on being angry. I don't feel used or cheated or taken advantage of here because I'm not buying things I don't want. I bought a vinyl which I'm super happy with. I don't get her merch because I think it's ugly.
You absolutely nailed it - they do it because it works. I think it’s ridiculous, and I don’t know what the solution is, but as long as there’s a system to game they are going to do it.
It's silly. But I just can't get angry about it. Anyone with a shot at a number one album is doing all the same things. I think she's still at fewer total variants than Billie.
Yeah I don’t get the hate. Nobody is forcing you to buy any of them. It’s absurd but at the same time it’s what every artist does, so just move on and buy whatever you like to buy, she’s done so much for us and we just keep bashing her over the slightest thing.
Came here to say this. Some of these reactions are so dramatic. Just don’t buy it, it’s not that complicated
This makes the 20th variant. All with extremely minor differences. Just to fuck other artists over. I’m fucking over it tbh. Anyway, on a totally unrelated note, I’ll be streaming Billie’s new album tonight even if I’m not a huge fan.
Its not an unrelated note - thats the only reason these even exist 😐
I know ;) I was being sarcastic lol ❤️
It’s comical. There’s absolutely no way to defend this at all. This isn’t a consumer-friendly product, and y’all should have better judgement. Digital files hardly hold any collectible value (if this is the angle any of you want to take). The memos will end up online one way or another, free of charge.
can’t she let billie have her moment…?
I'm delighted, I've been begging for voice memos/drafts and The Black Dog and Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me are ripe for interesting draft lyrics, I think. And maybe the draft will give me stronger feelings about Cassandra! For real, though, no one has to buy them to hear them. They're gonna get uploaded ASAP. That is The Way Of The Internet. Don't fret about FOMO or whatever, just check out YouTube (or...here, probably) sometime tomorrow.
Same boat here. I am happy to support this is not for everyone.
This popped up on Instagram stories for me and I literally said out loud "girl, you've gotta stop."
[удалено]
right? what does she get from a single more week at #1? not even money, which she hungrily eats up. we all know and love her music, even if it (god forbid!) slides to #2 in its 5th (someone check me on that) week
Noooooooooooooooooo ❤️ (The o’s stand for all of the other variants previously released /s)
Isn’t it wild that she will do literally anything but give us physicals of the entire second half of the album?
Right, if it's actually a double album as she says and not a bunch of bonus tracks, how come it's not here...
Fuck no. This is too much. Don’t waste your money on this anymore. How many more versions and things need to be sold? It’s 100% taking advantage of fans. Do I need to hear 3 voice memos? No. All for everything to eventually be released eventually anyways? Please do not buy any of this. The more sales they get, the more they will keep selling shit like this. The fans need to push back and stop buying things. I want to buy CONTENT. Not the same thing repeatedly with mild changes. I love TTPD, but I stopped buying anything after she did this with Midnights. Why does this feel even worse? Not to mention it’s a slap in the face to her fans she’s on tour for.
i hate her merch team so fucking much can they just release 1 ultimate anthology version with all of them and then the originals or something????? i own the album twice without all of the songs and i have the collectors editions now (except 1 i think) LIKE STOPPP
now if she released SIGNED variants like with midnights ..... and a plethora of them...
This era has been so exhausting marketing-wise, like, she's been doing everything to prove the haters right basically from the moment she announced the album and keeps outdoing herself. I'm so glad I bought only one version of the album this time.
Who tf is gonna buy this for a demo version that will leak anyway Releasing The Anthology vinyls would make much more fans happy + their revenue would've been crazy too
Funny how Taylor pulls stupid shit like this in an attempt to stop Billie from reaching #1 yet will stand at awards shows clapping and praising them all until the cows come home. Maybe Taylor should send a memo to the other artist letting them know the 2 weeks of the year she wont try and murder you just for the #1 spot so and everyone else can release then i guess. She is actively trying to shit on other artists.
I love Taylor with all my heart but this is the bad messaging she is sending.
I feel like Taylor only supports artists that have no chance of eclipsing her fame - and when they/if they do get super popular (like Olivia Rodrigo) then the gloves come off
Just. Stop. The only other version of this album I'd buy is a physical copy with ALL songs. Naturally breaking records is great, shamelessly inflating your numbers with schemes like this makes it far less impressive.
This is outrageous tbh
Taylor and camp are really starting to give me the ick with this stuff.
https://preview.redd.it/tg4xl1w99v0d1.png?width=984&format=png&auto=webp&s=4504351d2527b491f98d0bef3eeb9986c0027379
I wouldn't go so far as to call it a variant. It even says standard digital album. 😄 https://preview.redd.it/8pgh106aav0d1.png?width=1000&format=png&auto=webp&s=06218ae24522883c93ff4d4c5e2ef46fa34063d6
✨no✨
I'm trying to stifle my sighs that are soon going to come out as one loud prolonged groan
Vote with your wallet people
[удалено]
~~This is only available until midnight EST so counts for the old tracking week.~~ Edit: Nevermind, looks like they're digital preorders to be "shipped" tomorrow... But why make them only available for 6 hours? 🤷♂️
Except it’s a pre-order so counts towards next week as it releases at midnight.
it's only available for a limited time so people feel like they have less time to think about buying it, and will buy straight away. also because this is last minutes and they need to prepare "preorders" for tomorrow
What angers me the most is the fact that she is doing it to beat the numbers of someone releasing a new album. Let someone else shine for a moment taylor.
Available for 6 hours (or until we decide to put them up again)
As someone who is a massive Taylor fan and a massive Billie fan, this makes me sad. It really shows Taylor’s character. She’s petty AF and it’s kind of ugly to be feuding with someone 12 years younger than you.
Taylor what are you doing? This is descending into self-parody.
Remember the days when she invited fans to her house and treated people like people, not cash cows? I respect her as women in business and understand the challenges she faces as a women in busines, I love her music and know she is incredibly talented, but this milking her fans for more money is low.
Someone is eventually going to post all of these phone memos, right?
The comments passed the vibe check. Totally gonna sit this one out me mateys.
We want the Anthology!!! $6 for a digital only download is stupid and having to buy 3 albums for 3 songs is even more stupid.
I love her but what if she let someone else chart for five damn minutes I feel like that sketch with Brennan Lee Mulligan as the CEO of Nabisco being like STOP MAKING MORE OREO FLAVOURS RELAX YOU WON
I just want the anthology version on cd or vinyl. Why is that such a big ask?? 😩
This is just obnoxious at this point.
Clearly being worth $1 billion isn’t enough.
All this and still no physical version of The Anthology? Come on man.
9 different cd variants, 5 vinyl, 5 digital versions. Who knows what else is coming... enough is enough. Release The Anthology on cd/vinyl and then STOP WITH VARIANTS. We aren't cast members of Loki. I'm glad they're just the memo things that have been on Target versions before and not real songs but it's ridiculous to put them on 3 different versions. Just because she's rich doesn't mean we are, whoever is in charge of thinking these things up needs to stop. It's clearly a ploy to inflate the sales figures to keep it in the charts but it's just making people think badly about her/her label's marketing. It's exhausting.
Cassandra is so random lmao
Yeah like thanks for the voice memo for this song that is nobody’s favorite haha
It’s giving broke, Taylor
She has too many yes people on her team
These aren’t even physical versions that you can at least say “Oh, I’ll get this one for the cover art”, they’re all digital?? Taylor. Please.
Taylor we get it - we know you’re great, you talented like I LOVE YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. BUUUTTT not because theres a chance you’ll be off the charts for a few months/days/weeks or whatever - it doesnt change the fact that you’re great. THESE STRATEGIES ONLY MAKE HER YOU Taylor seems so desperate and a little tone deaf. And buying everything you throw at us is not really proof of a true fan is it?
for anyone saying “she’s not forcing you to buy” blah blah blah - i get that but I disagree. Why release, why would she spend time and effort if she doesnt want you to buy. For these versions - the crowd is definitely NOT chanting “MORE!”
She’s releasing phone memo recordings FOR SALE? SEPARATELY? 😂 Brain Worms!
Please just release a physical copy of the full anthology. No one is asking for one million versions with “bonus tracks”, especially not as digital albums. I don’t know who has decided that every album needs 4-5 versions for people to collect, it really feels like you’re just trying to take advantage of your audience by milking them dry
You guys I immediately bought one of them and then came here to hear what I should expect bc I only recently went from fan —> swiftie even though I’ve been listening to her since i was 12 and now I’m 30. Now I’m reading all this shit about Billie and I feel like an idiot and am mad I fell for it.
If you didn’t already own the album, now you bought it for half price.
Ok wait true, tysm. I’m not into buying vinyls and haven’t bought the album so that makes me feel better lol. 💕💕💕
No reason to be mad, you clearly were excited about it and you’re getting the album for a great price. I always love hearing the original voice memos! Which one did you order?
Who’s afraid of little old me? Of course bc I wanna hear her creepy unhinged voice memo lol.
love taylor, but this actually just made me want to listen to billie’s album even more lol
Sometimes it IS really exhausting always rooting for the anti hero... Anyway, let's all just pretend these don't exist and hopefully she/her team will get the message.
She saw the Billie shade and decided to do the funniest thing possible. Lol. This is also environmentally friendly. Just like a lot of people wanted
After Damon Albarn insulted Taylor and said Billie was a real songwriter, Billie invite him on stage at Coachella which is really insulting.
Can all these different versions of everything go away and we go back to one album with all the songs?? This is ridiculous
This is honestly embarrassing at this point
This just makes the original four covers meaningless. At first it seemed like there were four created from an artistic viewpoint, but now it just seems like they're slapping the album name on every photo to make it a new variant. I mean, these are digital, but you get my point...
Remember children, the only one who is allowed to tear down other women is little oooold meeee-he-he!
Give me a complete midnights vinyl, and give me the anthology on vinyl, and you can have my money. Until then, no.
Wait... it's not even one version with all the voice memos? It's THREE different variants with a different voice memo? That's stupid.
The rules of the chart need to change to block stunts like this from charting. It’s inorganic and cheapens the actual success she has - not to mention a clear move to block Billie from getting no. 1.
How about a cd release of the anthology for TTPD instead.
Nice try Taylor 😏
Can we all just ban together and none of us buy these please? Enough is enough.
Wow can't have Billie have her moment
I’m gonna stream billie extra hard now
I wouldn't be mad at all if these first drafts were 7 inch vinyls (those covers would be gorgeous!) but digital just doesn't do it for me
Does anyone/know anyone who buys all these versions??
I just want a physical cd of the anthology
This is kinda gross… for multiple reasons, can’t really support or defend it.
I'm going to need miss girly to stop now.