Taylor Swift has added another chart win that matters to publishers, labels, and rights holders alike: her Toy Story 5 track “I Knew It, I Knew You” opened at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100. The debut gives Swift her 15th No. 1 song and immediately puts a film tie-in release at the center of the week’s commercial action.
Swift’s country turn powers a new chart leader
“I Knew It, I Knew You” finds Swift leaning back into her country roots, a fit for a song written as an ode to cowgirl Jessie. The track is Swift’s first release since her 12th album The Life of a Showgirl last September, and it reunites her with Jack Antonoff, who co-wrote the song and provided instrumentation.
The song dethroned Ariana Grande’s Petal single “Hate that I Made You Love Me,” which drew 27.2 million first-week streams and 87,000 sales, according to Billboard. Ella Langley’s “Choosin’” came in at No. 2, Drake’s “STFU” landed at No. 3, Langley’s “Be Her” was No. 4, and Grande’s song rounded out the top five.
A soundtrack placement with immediate commercial impact
The No. 1 debut gives Toy Story 5 a major music-business boost before the film heads to theaters this Friday. With the song now at the top of the Hot 100, the soundtrack cut enters release week with momentum that could drive even more attention in the coming days.
Swift’s label, Republic Records, also represents Drake and Grande, meaning the label has topped the Hot 100 with new songs in each of the past three weeks.
Another milestone follows her Hall of Fame honor
The chart debut comes just after Swift was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame last week, making her the youngest woman ever to receive the honor. In New York, she delivered an emotional speech thanking her family for their sacrifices in her early career and speaking directly to the next generation of hitmakers.
Swift told the crowd that songwriting was “the easiest thing I ever did” as she reflected on her 23-year career, including “the ups and downs,” “the industry battles,” “the trials and tribulations,” and “the world tours.”
What to watch next: whether Toy Story 5’s theatrical release this Friday gives “I Knew It, I Knew You” another lift on the charts.
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