Taylor Swift Is Officially In Her K-Pop Era: Photocards And More Inclusions In New Album

While fans of Western artists rarely purchase CDs today due to music streaming platforms, K-Pop fans are avid collectors primarily due to the creative album designs of their favorite artists, which include inclusions, such as photocards, posters, photobooks, and more.

K-Pop fans have long wondered when American pop artists would capitalize off the K-Pop trend of photocards, and now it appears we won’t have to wait much longer. Today’s biggest American pop star will now have collectible photocards as an album inclusion.

imagine if american artists’ albums came with photocards LMAO

— 5HINee 오이니 `ㅂ´ (@shawolzenl) September 19, 2019

why dont american artists sell photocards ………………………… if i could i would carry one in my phone case 100%

— maria (@maria363221) April 19, 2021

Can american artists pls start using kpop style packaging bc if kehlani ever had an album with official content, a photobook, photocards, and cute lil merch inside I’D CRY

— VIЯGO (@thatzodiacvirgo) June 15, 2021

On Sunday, The 2024 GRAMMY Awards were held, with Taylor Swift making history by winning “Album of the Year” for her album Midnights. While Swifties, her fandom, initially thought she would announce Reputation (Taylor’s Version), she announced an entirely new album, The Tortured Poets Department. 

TAYLOR SWIFT JUST BECAME THE FIRST PERSON IN HISTORY TO WIN ALBUM OF THE YEAR 4 TIMES!!!! pic.twitter.com/JhRB62Q80N

— ✩ CEL ✩ (@moonlithoax) February 5, 2024

The album has several versions, from CD to vinyl to cassette tape. While the regular CD album includes a collectible 20-page booklet that provides for all song lyrics and never-before-seen photos, a 10”x10” Double-Sided Poster, Side 1 includes full size photograph of Taylor Swift, and Side 2 includes one handwritten lyric, unique to this CD, the Collector’s Edition Deluxe CD includes even more.

The limited and deluxe edition includes The Manuscript Patch, Department Bookmark, The Manuscript Magnet, and 4 Photo Cards.

K-Pop fans were shocked to see the inclusions, realizing Taylor Swift’s team must have been taking notes. Even the fact that there are several versions of one album is already so K-Pop of her!

world STOP TAYLOR SWIFT PHOTOCARDS??? pic.twitter.com/JoRPbQY9GZ

— ☫ (@Ielebap) February 5, 2024

taylor sunbaenim photocards ? pic.twitter.com/3LTEYuRMzc

— ¹³ (@13bffs) February 5, 2024

From the moment she has so many versions of her album i knew it that she's taking notes from kpop

— YOUNG BLOOD⁷ (@Virgo242000) February 5, 2024

taylor knew her fans were bringing their kpop girls and boys photocards at her concerts and said “FCK IT I WILL DO MY OWN PHOTOCARDS TOO” pic.twitter.com/13GkyOKZgn

— kaila⁷ is seeing Taylor ???? (@taytaedaylight) February 5, 2024

Some suggested Taylor Swift could have also learned to include photocards through her idol friends, such as BLACKPINK‘s Rosé. Rosé, a known Swiftie, recently attended a party hosted by Swift.

rosé teaching taylor the perfect angle for selfie photocards pic.twitter.com/IolEpbDc7Y

— n (@goneavenue) February 5, 2024

" 4 photocards "
I know Rosé gives this idea to
Taylor unnie ???? pic.twitter.com/whzZRYhUba

— Violet ୨୧ (@_viiolet_) February 5, 2024

Fans of both K-Pop and Swift couldn’t be more excited to collect her photocards finally. Unsurprisingly, The Tortured Poets Department  Collector’s Edition Deluxe CD sold out on her website during pre-sale. Sorry!

Girl please restock the collector’s edition CD of “The Tortured Poet’s Department” I missed the pre-sale pic.twitter.com/fpCMeYOYwn

— aaron (taylor’s version) (@momentiknewstan) February 5, 2024

well the collector’s edition of taylor’s new album is sold out before i could get one pic.twitter.com/5G0N9z0IW6

— jes ౨ৎ (@hrtseddie) February 5, 2024

All the Swifties trying to get The Tortured Poets Department Collector's Edition #TaylorSwift pic.twitter.com/eBCOCVsJsP

— NightWolfRhodes (@NightWolfRhodes) February 5, 2024

Hopefully, some stores, such as Target, will carry it when the release day comes!

Photocards aren’t the only way Taylor Swift has entered her K-Pop era. She has included lightsticks and light-up bracelets in her Eras Tour. Read more below.

“Taylor Swift Sunbaenim” — How The Singer Is Going K-Pop During Her “Eras” Tour