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Taylor Swift<\/strong> has a hard-to-beat list of records and firsts on her resume. She\u2019s been Time<\/em>\u2019s Person of the Year twice (in 2017<\/a> and 2023<\/a>), her Eras Tour<\/a> has been named the highest-grossing ever<\/a>, and she\u2019s scored more American Music Awards than any other artist in history. But don\u2019t expect to see her just-released offering, Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book<\/em>, on the New York Times<\/em> bestseller list, because the paper\u2019s longstanding restrictions will keep it off the charts.<\/p>\n Swift, once rumored to be<\/a> the author of the film-companion<\/a> book Argylle<\/em>, released her 256-page hardcover book Friday, after an Instagram announcement<\/a> last month. The book contains \u201cmy own personal reflections, never-before-seen behind-the-scenes photos, all the magical memories you guys brought every single night,\u201d Swift wrote as a video spun through some of its pages.<\/p>\n Neither the subject matter nor the book’s focus on photos is keeping it off the Times<\/em> list, which many in publishing consider the gold standard of a book\u2019s success. Instead, the issue is the distribution model Swift chose for The Eras Tour Book<\/em>: As Esquire<\/em> noted last week<\/a>, Taylor Swift didn\u2019t bother with a traditional publishing house to issue and distribute her book. Instead, she self-published and chose a single retailer, a big box department store, Target, as the sole place people can buy a new copy of the book. Don\u2019t look on Amazon, it\u2019s not there\u2014nor is it at your local independent bookstore, the print media section of Walmart, or any remaining Barnes & Noble locations. It\u2019s Target or bust.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a strategy that benefits Swift\u2019s ongoing efforts to control her creative output and brand. Her decision to release \u201cTaylor\u2019s Versions<\/a>\u201d of her songs following a dispute over the ownership<\/a> of her master recordings is well known<\/a>, and arguably paved the way<\/a> for her independently distributed<\/a> documentary, a well-reviewed<\/a> depiction of the Eras Tour that had the biggest opening weekend<\/a> for a concert film in history though it was only available in AMC theaters.<\/p>\n Swift\u2019s AMC-only decision for her film had no impact on how box-office trackers noted its success, but the same isn\u2019t true for the Times<\/em> list. \u201cA title sold exclusively by a single vendor does not qualify for tracking,\u201d a rep for the paper told Esquire,<\/em> which means that\u2014especially given Swift\u2019s track record\u2014the NYT<\/em>\u2019s painstakingly compiled rankings<\/a> might pass over this weekend\u2019s biggest blockbuster.<\/p>\n It\u2019s possible, though, that the Times<\/em> list might not be as influential as publishers and authors have led us to believe. Speaking with Stanford Business<\/em><\/a>,<\/em> Alan Sorensen\u2014a professor who studies the impact of bestseller lists on book sales\u2014says that while unknown writers might get a bump from being listed on the NYT<\/em> list, inclusion makes little difference for sales of books by household names such as Danielle Steele<\/strong> or Stephen King.<\/strong> \u201cIt\u2019s free advertising for new authors who make it to the list,\u201d he says, but that\u2019s hardly the case for someone like Swift, who\u2014with all respect to Steele and King\u2014might be one of the best-known names on the planet.<\/p>\n Swift’s exclusion might be good news for the current front-runner on the non-fiction bestseller list, a book penned by another icon of music. Cher: The Memoir Part One<\/em><\/a> is currently in the top slot, its first time on the chart since the book’s release on November 19. But as people order Cher\u2019s book from the comfort of their homes, fans suited up to gather outside Target locations this morning for a first crack at Swift\u2019s story (which Target will offer online as of November 30).<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it\u2019s really cold but we\u2019re here to get Taylor Swift\u2019s tour book,\u201d Chicago-area shopper Carlos Miracle<\/strong> told Reuters<\/a> this morning. \u201cI usually don\u2019t buy anything during the holiday season,\u201d New Jersey Target shopper Amy Webb<\/strong> said from an early-morning line. \u201cBut [I] wanted to get my hands on this before it sells out.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n