Taylor Swift's Album Leak Uncovers Potential Record-Breaking Podcast Episode
In an unexpected turn of events, Taylor Swift's twelfth studio album was officially announced on the "New Heights" podcast hosted by Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce. During this appearance, Swift revealed that the album's release date is October 3, 2025 [1][2][3].
The album cover and release date were shared on the podcast and her official Instagram around August 12, 2025, with a teaser video posted at 12:12 a.m., referencing her 12th studio album, TS12 [1][4]. The podcast episode announcing the album had record-breaking engagement, highlighting the significance of this release date reveal in a very personal and unconventional promotional format for Swift [3].
Interestingly, the release day, October 3, coincides closely with Travis Kelce’s birthday (October 5) and reflects Swift’s favorite number, 13, through numerological significance (10/3 sums to 13) [3]. Taylor Swift, who has rarely been heard in podcasts before her appearance on "New Heights," humorously acknowledged her popularity among the podcast's male sports fanbase.
This deal makes the Kelce brothers one of the highest-paid podcasters in the world, with Amazon reportedly paying around 100 million dollars for the advertising rights in the "New Heights" podcast [6]. YouTube's video subsidiary has become a leading provider of podcasts in recent months, generating significant revenue for Amazon and YouTube [5].
The Kelce brothers' podcast, "New Heights," already reaches millions of viewers and generates substantial revenue. With almost 2.7 million subscribers on YouTube and available on platforms such as Spotify, Apple, and YouTube, the podcast is not exclusive to Amazon's Wondery [7].
Those who buy the album on Swift's website will receive it before October 13 [8]. The appearance of Taylor Swift on the football podcast "New Heights" could potentially revolutionize the podcast medium and attract new audiences, including Swift's fans.
[1] Taylor Swift's official Instagram post announcing the album. [2] Taylor Swift's appearance on the "New Heights" podcast. [3] Article on Variety discussing the significance of the release date. [4] Taylor Swift's official Instagram post with the teaser video. [5] Article on The Verge discussing YouTube's role in podcasting. [6] Article on Ad Age discussing Amazon's advertising spending on the "New Heights" podcast. [7] Article on Deadline discussing the availability of the "New Heights" podcast. [8] Article on Billboard discussing the pre-order availability of the album on Swift's website.
What was the unconventional promotional format for Taylor Swift's 12th studio album, social-media-wise? She posted an album teaser on her Instagram around August 12, 2025, and shared the album cover and release date simultaneously on the "New Heights" podcast, which is hosted by Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce. Besides being entertainment for sports fans, the podcast also features discussions about music and celebrities.
