...Excluding Reputation from streaming was important in driving sales, a similar strategy that Adele employed in 2015 to help 25 set its one-week sales record.
"When you exclude something from streaming services, the only way to listen to it, effectively, is to purchase it," Caulfield says. But Swift also "has a fan base that’s very passionate and believes in her work and artistry, and actually wants to purchase something tangible as well."
Look at her Twitter account, and it’s full of photos of her fans purchasing Reputation and her branded magazines at Target, accompanied by the hashtag #reputaylurking. Swift even made a Target run herself to purchase Reputation, a tradition that she’s done with her previous albums. The physical act of buying Swift’s music is entrenched in her fan base, and she’s managed to turn purchasing Reputation into a social media celebration for her most devoted listeners.