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Taylor Swift’s August 2025 Spotify playlist, “And, baby, that’s show business for you,” gathered 22 songs from Red, 1989 and reputation—albums connected to producers Max Martin and Shellback. It became a clue in the rollout for The Life of a Showgirl, but it was not an album tracklist or an announcement of its collaborators. The album’s later credits confirmed Martin and Shellback’s return.
What was the playlist?
The playlist appeared on Swift’s official Spotify profile under the title “And, baby, that’s show business for you.” GRAMMY.com reported that it contained 22 songs drawn from Red (2012), 1989 (2014) and reputation (2017), the three albums in Swift’s discography co-produced by Martin and Shellback. GRAMMY.com’s account of the album announcement and playlist provides the playlist’s title and source albums.
Rolling Stone reported that the selection begins with “22” and ends with “Wonderland,” and that its songs were produced by Martin and Shellback. Rolling Stone’s report describes those endpoints and the producers’ connection to the songs.
How Spotify put it in front of fans
Spotify’s campaign began at 12:12 a.m. on August 12, 2025, with an orange-and-mint billboard in Times Square. The company said the activation extended across 12 locations, with each billboard linking by Spotify code to a playlist on Swift’s official profile. Fans could scan the billboards in person or online using the Spotify app’s camera. Spotify’s August 15, 2025 campaign report lists the locations: Times Square and Penn Plaza in New York City; Los Angeles; Las Vegas; Miami; Nashville; Toronto; Leicester Square and Meridian Steps in London; Paris; Mexico City; and São Paulo.
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A separate New York City promotion, “The Life of a Showgirl: A Spotify Experience,” was scheduled for September 30 through October 2, 2025. Spotify said Swift would not attend. It was another rollout event, distinct from the playlist and billboard campaign. Spotify’s September 25 announcement describes that event.
Was it a hint that Martin and Shellback worked on the album?
Yes—as a hint, not as proof at the time. The playlist’s songs pointed to Swift’s history with Martin and Shellback, making their selection notable just ahead of the album. But a playlist does not establish who produced a forthcoming record, and Spotify did not publish an explanation from Swift about the curation’s intended meaning.
The inference gained significance after the release: the Associated Press reported that Martin and Shellback were credited producers on The Life of a Showgirl. AP also reported that Sabrina Carpenter featured on the title track. The AP’s October 2025 album coverage provides that later confirmation. Swift also praised her work with the producers in remarks reproduced by GRAMMY.com: “The three of us have made some of my favorite songs that I’ve ever done before.” Those comments concern the collaboration, not a stated reason for the playlist.
What the playlist was—and was not
- It was: a curated set of 22 songs from three Swift albums associated with Martin and Shellback, surfaced through a Spotify billboard campaign.
- It was not: an announced tracklist for The Life of a Showgirl, or an official confirmation of its production credits.
- What later settled the producer question: the album credits reported after its release, rather than the playlist alone.
What followed the playlist
The Life of a Showgirl, Swift’s 12th studio album, was released October 3, 2025, according to the Associated Press. Track counts can differ by source and point in the rollout: GRAMMY.com described a 12-song tracklist when the album was announced, while Apple Music’s later album page lists 13 songs and a 41-minute runtime. These are not interchangeable versions of the same reported count; the relevant edition and publication date matter. Apple Music’s album listing shows its later 13-song listing.
Physical editions are separate from the playlist story. The official artist store lists a 12-track Portofino Orange Glitter vinyl and a 12-track CD with poster; the vinyl description mentions a translucent orange record with gold glitter and a collectible gatefold package, while the CD includes a double-sided poster and an eight-page booklet. Swift’s official store listing gives those edition details. Target announced its own retailer-exclusive “The Crowd Is Your King” Summertime Spritz Pink Shimmer vinyl and three exclusive CD-with-poster editions in September 2025. Target’s announcement documents those variants; neither announcement establishes current stock, which can change over time.
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