Taylor Swift’s latest album expected to boost business in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — From large corporations to independent record stores, businesses are sure to get a boost with the Friday release of global popstar sensation Taylor Swift’s new album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”

The album is the singer and songwriter’s 12th studio album and the first since she became the owner of her own catalogue.

In Utah, fans — known as Swifties — have several options for purchasing physical formats of the new album, which will be sold on CD, cassette, and vinyl.

Target’s midnight release of Taylor Swift’s latest album

A Target news release called “The Life of a Showgirl” “the most anticipated music release of the year.” 

Swift has partnered with the company, releasing a Target-exclusive vinyl variant.

In Utah, nine stores will be among the nearly 500 Target stores nationwide staying open late to host midnight releases.

“We expect lots of Swifties,” said Joe Hegeduis, store director at the Target in Cottonwood Heights.

Hegeduis, who said he’s a Swiftie “by marriage,” showed up to work Thursday for an extra long shift, but said he is excited to welcome fans who want to be among the first people to get their hands on the new album.

“They are some of the nicest, most exciting fans out there,” he said.

Fans showing up will be able to reserve their spot in line around 10:00 p.m., then shop until midnight.

“We’ll start our line at 9:00 p.m. And we’ll hand out our tickets at 10:00 p.m.,” he explained, “And then we’ll be able to process the sales starting at midnight.”

Local record stores

The reality of fans flocking to stores at midnight to purchase CD’s and vinyl, even when the music is available to stream, isn’t surprising.

According to the Record Industry Association of America’s 2024 year-end-report, revenue from vinyl records grew to $1.4 Billion last year, marking the vinyl format’s 18th consecutive year of growth.

And a survey by Vinyl Alliance found Gen Z listeners’ passion for vinyl is a “major force behind the format’s resurgence.”

“It’s a combination of Gen Z and the older generation, because they’re swapping and sharing,” said Michael Maccarrone, co-owner of Sound and Vision Vinyl in South Salt Lake.

He said the data on vinyl and young people’s interest in it validates the feelings he’s had about the format since he was a 14-year-old boy with a room decorated much like his record shop is today.

“You’re physically involved in it,” he said of vinyl. “That’s a big difference. I mean, you sit there and you’ve got an album cover and you’ve got graphics and stuff to read. It’s a whole another world.” 

His store boasts a sizeable selection of Taylor Swift albums and posters. A friendship bracelet given to him by a Swiftie customer is displayed near the front. He said when artists like Swift release new music, it brings people into record stores where they’re bound to discover more.

“Then they go and they notice other bands that they listen to and they discover all that,” he explained. “The artist bringing things in, it creates a whole snowball effect allowing other items to be enjoyed.” 

Maccarrone said running his store allows him to witness multiple generations connecting over physical music that lasts.

“I don’t expect records to go away. I think we’ll go away before the records do,” he said. “They’re going to be here long after we’re gone.”

Independent record stores expect to receive their product shipments on Friday. Maccarrone said the release day delivery is aimed at avoiding leaks prior to the official release.

“Most of the people who come here, they’ve reserved it from me,” he said. “And I’ve got ample supplies coming.”

 

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