Super-Collectors of Taylor Swift: Get to Know the People Who Will Pay Any Price to Own Every “Tortured Poets Department” Edition

There’s no doubting the power of Taylor Swift and her Swiftie fan base, given her record-breaking “Eras” tour and the album’s nine weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 list.

But since the album’s April 19 release, the singer has been releasing several versions of her soul-baring “Tortured Poets Department” album to keep it charting. Some of these include acoustic tracks, live renditions, voice-memoro demos, or a bonus song from the album’s unexpected double-album expansion, “The Anthology,” which she hasn’t yet released in physical form but will undoubtedly cause a major splash once available. There are probably definitely going to be more, bringing the total up to around thirty.

Nevertheless, Variety spoke with a few Swifties who admit to being guilty (as sin) of putting her album’s numerous versions to their online purchasing carts, demonstrating that there is undoubtedly a demand for the variants.

Belle listened to Swift’s re-recorded version of “1989” with her kid in October of last year because of her fascination with Tayvis (or Traylor). Thus, it turned into a unifying activity. Thus, when “Tortured Poets” was out, we were ecstatic,” she adds. Belle, who is now an active fan and has connected with people on Twitter, says, “My daughter feels that I am much beyond her in this. Although she likes the music, she feels as though “you’ve passed me by.”

When [Swift] has dropped something in the past, I have ordered the CD, the cassette, and the vinyl. And using “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” my daughter chose the color she like, and we just placed an order for it. However, I was quite delighted about this record since it was a connecting and experience with my kid, adds Belle.

For some Swifties, the cost is a greater worry.

Stephanie, 33, has purchased every tangible piece of “TTPD” material available, but not the digital copies of the various releases. “If I had the money, I would love to purchase [them too], but I have to be picky about what I buy.

“Even my mother will say things like, ‘You would give everything up for her if you could,’ to which I reply, ‘Well, I’m kind of almost.'” Stephanie chuckles as she speaks. It seems to me that you may always increase your income. I’m an Uber Eats driver and I work for a school system. If necessary, I can work extra hours on Uber. However, you don’t always get.

Not much suggests that any of these “Tortured Poets” variations will appreciate in value at this time. However, fans are well aware that resale values for some of Swift’s previous limited editions—particularly for a select rare vinyl items—have reached absurd heights. It’s not always obvious which versions will increase in value over time and which will be accessible forever when they go on sale. The majority of the eight distinct gatefold cover packages that accompanied the vinyl release of “Folklore” in 2020 turned out to be genuine limited editions, and they are now hard to get for less than $250. However, once she released many LP covers for “Midnights,” those were printed and available for purchase indefinitely.

For almost $700, Stephanie purchased a resale copy of what may be Swift’s rarest record, “Lover [Live From Paris],” which was only available on vinyl and was only briefly listed on the musician’s website. (At the moment, other copies are asking four figures on the resale market.)

She claims that there’s a feeling that if she doesn’t purchase media from Swift, she’ll have to do it at a much greater cost, as is now almost notoriously the case for many fans of Swift’s cardigans, which were originally made available during her “Folklore” period.

But Stephanie is purchasing the versions for reasons other than the resale market. Stephanie claims that everytime Swift releases new songs, it feels like “Christmas morning.” It is “extremely exciting to be able to see, ‘Okay, what did she do in this one that makes it different?'” Or will someone say, “Well, I think I prefer the original.” And just the excitement of not knowing what it will be.

Stephanie also takes pleasure in helping Swift succeed. “It’s amazing to observe the tremendous influence that ‘Midnights’ made at initially.

And she keeps raising the standard. And being able to add to it and feel like, “Wow, I helped make that happen,” is very amazing.

Stephanie continues by saying that Swift’s product quality consistently makes her delighted. Normally, I adore it. There hasn’t, in my opinion, been another result. If I end up purchasing it, I believe it will be a wise investment. It will also be something I’m thrilled about.