Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero,” the lead single from the four-track “The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore” deluxe released September 25, opened with a record 13.7 million global Spotify streams on day one—the second-biggest debut of 2026—fueled by fan mobilization and surprise timing after the original album’s historic performance. Streams fell sharply to roughly 5.5 million the next day, a 59% drop typical for new releases, before the star-studded music video premiered at the VMAs on September 27. Luminate reported 70.7 million multi-platform streams for the full tracking week ending October 1, though Spotify-specific cumulative totals remain the resolution benchmark. Mixed critical reception for the Encore and competition from the other three new tracks create uncertainty around whether early momentum will hold through the close.