Taylor Swift Album Theory Sends Internet Into Meltdown

An unassuming photo on the merchandise section of Taylor Swift’s website has sparked a theory that she is dropping re-recordings of two albums in 2025.

Over the years, the pop star has preceded her album releases with Easter eggs online and during performances. As such, her every move is often taken to have extra meaning by her more dedicated core of fans.

On November 13, fans shared a screenshot showing three sweaters placed on top of one another on Swift’s website. The image has been taken as a hint that Swift will be releasing recordings of 2006 debut album, Taylor Swift, and her 2017 album Reputation.

“WAIT…. This is an Easter egg,” one fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter, as they shared the screenshot. “WE ARE GETTING DEBUT TV BEFORE SUMMER AND THEN AFTER SUMMER WE GET REP TV.”

The “TV” in question is “Taylor’s Version,” representing the re-recordings of earlier albums that Swift has released following a rights dispute with music mogul Scooter Braun. The record executive purchased Big Machine Records, Swift’s first label, in 2019, giving him ownership of her first six albums.

The post shows the top sweater featuring Taylor Swift’s name, followed by another emblazoned with the words “Summer With You,” taken from the lyrics of her track “Cruel Summer.” The final sweater on the bottom shows the words “Starry Eyes,” taken from the lyrics of Swift’s track “Call It What You Want,” which features on her Reputation album.

With the “Summer” top serving as the divider, fans have deciphered from the post that Swift’s version of Taylor Swift will be released in the earlier part of the year, while a new Reputation recording will follow in the latter half.

As of press time, the X post has garnered close to 2 million views. Newsweek has contacted a representative of Swift via email for comment.

Some fans have taken to calling the potential Easter egg as a “sandwich,” with summer filling the space in between the two anticipated re-recordings.

A host of Swift’s fans expressed their elation at the potential discovery, with one writing: “I actually love this theory.”

“Bookmarking this so I can come back next year and high five you if you’re right,” said another.

Countering the predicted timeline of album releases, another commented: “If [Swift] does debut before [Reputation] it has to be that Rep TV has some sort of huge message/reveal. Because why else would she not go with the symbolism that the last album of masters she takes back is ‘Taylor Swift’??”

Back in 2019, after music mogul Braun purchased the rights to Swift’s master recordings from her first six albums—before selling them to Shamrock Holdings—Swift announced that she would re-record the albums in dispute.

Since 2021, Swift has released the re-recordings of 2008’s Fearless, 2012’s Red, 2010’s Speak Now, and 2014’s 1989. To date, Swift’s self-titled debut album and Reputation are the only two of the recordings not yet re-recorded.

Swift’s most recent album, The Tortured Poets Department, was released in April. It marked the 11th album that Swift had released.

When a band, singer, or songwriter owns the rights to their publishing, they own their lyrics and melodies, and can determine how they will be used. For example, while Swift may not yet own the masters for Reputation, her ownership of the publishing means that she can sell merchandise with specific lyrics on it.

When a band or singer owns their master recordings, they own the song or album. This means they can determine how their song or album is used in film, television, advertising, or radio.

Since announcing her re-recording project, many of Swift’s newer versions have shown up in movies and television programs, like The Bear, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and Spirit Untamed. Swift, however, can only greenlight the use of the Taylor’s Version re-recordings, as those are the only masters she owns.

With her re-recordings, Swift has the freedom to make artistic decisions with her music without interference from labels or other external entities. She can also earn money from sales, streaming, and licensing of her music.