Overview

Reputation (stylized in all lowercase) is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released on November 10, 2017, by Big Machine Records. Following her fifth studio album 1989 (2014), Swift was involved in disputes with multiple celebrities, which became a subject of widespread tabloid scrutiny. She hence secluded herself from the press and social media, where she had maintained an active presence. As an effort to revamp her state of mind, Swift created Reputation with producers Jack Antonoff, Max Martin, Shellback, Ali Payami and Oscar Görres.

Influenced by the scrutiny, Swift wrote Reputation under two major themes: one drawing from the excessive media gossip, and the other about finding love amidst the tumultuous events. The album's sound is built around dark electropop, EDM and R&B, inspired by urban genres like hip hop and trap, resulting in a heavy electronic production consisting of surging synthesizers, pulsing drum machines, and manipulated vocals. Swift, restrospectively, stated that she played an alter ego in Reputation.

Swift announced the album after her hiatus and a blackout of her social media, which generated widespread attention. Unlike her previous albums, she did not promote Reputation through press interviews. Four international singles supported the album: "Look What You Made Me Do", "...Ready For It?", "End Game", and "Delicate", the first two of which reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, with the former topping the chart for three weeks. "New Year's Day" was released to US country radio, whereas "Getaway Car" was released in Australia only. The album was Swift's fourth consecutive album to debut atop the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of over one million copies, and reached number one in Australia, Canada, and the UK as well. The best-selling album of 2017 by a female artist, Reputation sold 4.5 million copies and was supported by the Reputation Stadium Tour (2018), which became the highest-grossing North American tour of all time.

Critical response to Reputation was generally positive; reviewers were divided on the brash production and harsh themes, but praised Swift's vulnerable songwriting, specifically on the songs about love. Some critics found the album an intimate record in which Swift expresses her innermost vulnerability to an ideal lover and discovers her true self. Reputation garnered a nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, was listed on Slant Magazine's list of the best albums of the 2010s decade, and has received sales certifications across the globe.