Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl has turned release week into a global spectacle — breaking streaming and sales records across every platform and setting sights on Adele’s all-time debut. But behind the glitter and the variants, we ask: is this pure dominance or a perfectly engineered record-breaking machine?

This week, Can and Murat don’t entirely see eye to eye — diving into the balance between artistry and strategy, authenticity and ambition. Murat reports live from New York, sharing his experiences from record stores and Showgirl screenings, as the era unfolds in real time.

We also celebrate Olivia Dean’s historic UK chart double, Mariah Carey’s Here For It All topping the physical sales chart, Doja Cat’s underperforming but critically acclaimed Vie, and the anticipation around Bad Bunny’s upcoming Super Bowl takeover.