Taylor Swift has set a new podcast viewership record, surpassing the previous mark held by President Donald Trump, with 1.3 million concurrent viewers tuning in to her appearance on the “New Heights” podcast on YouTube within the first hour of its live stream on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.
The Grammy-winning artist appeared on the podcast alongside her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and his brother, Jason Kelce, who conducted the interview for just over two hours. Swift’s representatives confirmed the viewership numbers, highlighting a notable achievement in podcast engagement metrics.
Swift’s record surpassed Trump’s previous record from his October 2024 appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, which drew 800,000 concurrent viewers in its first hour. This significant difference underscores a substantial rise in podcast viewership statistics. The record for total viewers for a podcast was not broken.
CNN host Kate Bolduan remarked on Wednesday that Swift’s episode was on track to become one of the most-watched podcasts in history. The rapid accumulation of viewers highlighted the combined popularity of Swift and the Kelce brothers, who host the well-known sports-focused show.
Swift’s appearance on the two-hour “New Heights” football podcast attracted such extensive attention that, at the 1 hour and 44-minute mark, the influx of fans overwhelmed YouTube, causing disruption in the comments section.
Co-host Jason Kelce posted on X, noting that 1.3 million views perfectly captured the essence of numerology, referencing Swift’s discussion about her preference for the number 13 during the podcast.
During her “New Heights” appearance, Swift shared significant news about her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set for release on October 3. This 12th studio album is her first release since regaining control over her entire recording catalog, marking an important milestone in her career.
Swift mentioned she worked on the album while touring Europe during her Eras Tour, traveling to Sweden during breaks to complete the recordings. She described the album as reflecting her internal experiences during the tour’s vibrant and dynamic atmosphere.
The album features collaborations with producers Max Martin and Shellback, with whom Swift has previously worked on hits like “Shake It Off,” “Style,” and “Blank Space.” Swift noted this is the first album created exclusively with this production team, without other collaborators.
Swift revealed all 12 track titles during the podcast interview, with a collaboration featuring Sabrina Carpenter on the title track. She emphasized that no additional songs or deluxe edition would follow, unlike her previous release, “The Tortured Poets Department,” which included 31 tracks.
The podcast appearance allowed Swift to discuss her emotional reunion with her master recordings. She recounted receiving the news of the purchase while in Kansas City, Missouri, describing how she fell to the floor and cried upon learning she had successfully bought back the rights to her first six albums.
Swift purchased the song masters from private equity firm Shamrock Capital earlier this year, concluding a years-long dispute that began in 2019 when her former label Big Machine Records sold her catalog to music executive Scooter Braun. This acquisition marked a significant achievement in her quest to control her artistic legacy.
The record-breaking podcast viewership highlights Swift’s ongoing cultural impact and her ability to engage massive audiences across various media platforms. Her appearance on “New Heights” generated over 175 million views on the promotional clip alone before the full episode’s release, illustrating the anticipation surrounding her rare extended interviews.
Travis Kelce described the new album as featuring more upbeat and fun pop elements compared to Swift’s previous release, calling it a complete contrast to “The Tortured Poets Department.” Swift assured that the album contains catchy melodies and represents the most joyful and dramatic period of her life during the Eras Tour experience.