"The true person who deserves to be #1"—Internet reacts as Apple Music declares Taylor Swift and TTPD the most streamed artist and album of 2024
On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, Apple Music released its end-of-year charts, naming Taylor Swift the top streamed artist of 2024. With The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology (TTPD), the pop singer earned the top streamed album of the year feat on the platform.
Swift dropped her eleventh studio project TTPD on April 19, featuring 16 tracks. Just hours after its release, the songstress expanded into a double album, which was subtitled The Anthology, which had additional fifteen tracks.
Needless to say, the announcement caused quite a stir, with one fan asserting:
"The true person who deserves to be #1 on the Greatest Artist list."
Internet users gushed about the singer's accomplishments, many praising her music. Some even joked that they did their part for Taylor Swift's streaming numbers. Here are some comments seen under @PopBase's post on X:
"I did my part," one wrote.
"Legend, queen, superstar!!!" another commented.
"Are we surprised she served pure art," a person stated.
Others, however, bought up lists that Swift didn't top this year, like Billboard naming Beyoncé as the greatest pop star of the 21st century and Apple Music naming Billie Eilish as the artist of the year.
"A REAL successful album that isn’t measured by Twitter vibes or tik tok challenges," one fan reacted.
"And we’re supposed to believe beyonce is #1 greatest popstar," a user sarcastically added.
"Right... and she wasn't apple music's artist of the year.." another added.
"Ahhhhhh thank you for listening to my music"—Taylor Swift responds to Apple Music's announcement
Just hours after Apple Music's announcement, Swift took to her Instagram stories to thank her fans for their support. She wrote:
"Ahhhhhh thank you for listening to my music and TTPD so much!!!! You, the fans, made The Tortured Poets Department the TOP STREAMED ALBUM of The Year on @applemusic!!!"
Swift added:
"You guys snagged me that Top Streamed Artist spot too."
Since its release, The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD) has been certified six times platinum by the RIAA. It topped the Billboard 200 chart, maintaining the top position for fifteen weeks (non-consecutive weeks). All 31 songs from the album debuted on the Hot 100 chart, even occupying the top fourteen spots simultaneously (a first for the chart).
The Apple Music announcement comes just days after Billboard ranked Taylor Swift at the No. 2 spot on its Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century list, below Beyoncé. On November 26, the publication acknowledged that the move would be considered "controversial" but stated it was "just another testament to her power," adding:
"Her placement shouldn’t leave Swifties upset for too long — especially considering how much later in the millennium she got her start, both in the genre and music in general."
Following Taylor Swift's ranking, the pop singer's fans began sharing negative comments directed at Beyoncé and her family. The Halo singer's fans, known as the BeyHive, began calling out the alleged hateful comments using the hashtag #SwiftieRacism. In response, Swifties began accusing the BeyHive of making racist remarks, prompting #BeyHiveRacism to trend on X.
Neither Taylor Swift nor Beyoncé publicly reacted to the development.
In addition to Taylor Swift, Apple Music named Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us as its most-played track this year. The song was a diss directed at Drake during their feud that took place earlier this year.
