Taylor Swift 'Opalite' Music Video Announced: Release Date

Taylor Swift is set to release a new music video for her song “Opalite” from her album The Life of a Showgirl. The video will debut on Spotify and Apple Music on Friday, February 6, at 8 a.m. ET, and will become available on YouTube on Sunday, February 8.

A New Visual from a Record-Breaking Album

“Opalite” will be the second music video released from The Life of a Showgirl, following the video for “The Fate of Ophelia.” The “Fate of Ophelia” video initially appeared as part of Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl in movie theaters before being released on YouTube. It remains unclear whether the “Opalite” video will be the same version shown during the theatrical release.

Chart Success and Streaming Strategy

The Life of a Showgirl debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart on October 3 and remained in the top spot for 12 weeks. In its first week, the album moved 4.002 million equivalent album units in the United States, according to Luminate. “The Fate of Ophelia” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Opalite” peaked at No. 2.

Did You Know? The Life of a Showgirl spent a total of 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Swift’s decision to initially release the “Opalite” video on Spotify and Apple Music comes after YouTube announced in December that it would withdraw its streaming data from Billboard’s charts. This followed a change in Billboard’s chart methodology on December 16, which increased the weight given to paid subscription streams compared to ad-supported streams.

Additional Release Details

In addition to the music video, a 7-inch vinyl single of “Opalite” is available for purchase on Taylor Swift’s web store for a limited time of 48 hours. The single is expected to ship around February 9.

Expert Insight: The decision to prioritize Spotify and Apple Music for the initial release suggests a strategic response to changes in how streaming data is measured for chart rankings, potentially aiming to maximize impact within the current methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the “Opalite” music video be released?

The “Opalite” music video will be released on Spotify and Apple Music on Friday, February 6, at 8 a.m. ET, and on YouTube on Sunday, February 8.

Where was the first “Opalite” video shown?

A version of the “Opalite” video was shown during Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl in movie theaters.

What was the peak position of “Opalite” on the Billboard Hot 100?

“Opalite” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

As Taylor Swift continues to innovate with her releases, how might these evolving distribution strategies impact the future of music video premieres?

Taylor Swift ‘Opalite’ Music Video Announced: Release Date