Honestly, walking into a Target back in November 2017 felt like entering a war room. Cardboard standees of a grayscale, newsprint-covered Taylor Swift were everywhere. If you were looking for the taylor swift album reputation target exclusive, you weren't just looking for a CD. You were looking for these massive, glossy magazines that weighed a ton and felt more like coffee table books than album packaging.
It’s been years. Yet, people are still scouring eBay and resale sites for those specific Target editions. Why? Because reputation wasn't just an album; it was a scorched-earth rebranding. And Target was the only place where Taylor actually "explained" herself through poetry and paintings.
The Magazine Obsession: Volume 1 vs. Volume 2
Most retailers just sell the plastic jewel case. Target didn't do that. They released two distinct 72-page magazines. Each one came with the standard 15-track CD tucked into the back cover, but the content inside was wildly different.
If you bought Volume 1, you got that iconic Mert & Marcus cover—the one where Taylor is staring directly at the camera with her hair slicked back. Inside, it was a mix of high-fashion photography and digital paintings she did herself. It also featured the handwritten lyrics for the first half of the album. You know, the "heavy" stuff like ...Ready For It? and Look What You Made Me Do.
What Was Actually Inside Volume 2?
Volume 2 felt more personal. The cover was softer, featuring a photo of her in a blue sweater. It leaned into the "behind the scenes" aspect of the era. If you wanted to see the grainy, candid photos of her living her life while the world was busy "canceling" her, this was the one to grab.
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- Handwritten Poetry: This is where we got the famous "Why She Disappeared" poem. It basically served as the manifesto for the entire era.
- Watercolor Paintings: Taylor actually included her own art. It wasn't just stock photos; it was 16 pages of lyrics scrawled over her own paintings.
- Music Video BTS: There were 23 to 25 photos (depending on the volume) showing the making of her music videos.
The detail was insane. In one section of the taylor swift album reputation target magazines, she draws a tiny daisy next to the lyric "daisy" in Don't Blame Me. It's those small, "if you know, you know" touches that made fans buy both copies. At $19.99 a pop back then, it was a steal. Now? Good luck finding a sealed one for under fifty bucks.
The Vinyl Controversy: Why Does the Picture Disc Skip?
If you head over to the Target website today, you’ll see the reputation vinyl listed. It’s a 2-LP set. It’s also a "picture disc," meaning the artwork is pressed directly onto the record itself.
Here is the thing. Picture discs are notoriously finicky. If you read the reviews on the Target product page right now, you’ll see a massive divide. Half the people say it’s the most beautiful thing in their collection. The other half are complaining that it skips like crazy, especially during the heavy bass drops in I Did Something Bad.
Is it the record or your player?
Usually, it's the player. Many entry-level turntables—the ones with the built-in speakers—struggle with the 180-gram weight and the shallow grooves of a picture disc. Experts like those frequently cited on the Steve Hoffman Music Forums often point out that the PVC film used to create the image on the disc can cause more surface noise than traditional black wax.
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But for most Swifties, the sound quality is secondary to the aesthetic. The taylor swift album reputation target vinyl features two different images of Taylor from the album photoshoot. It looks incredible spinning on a platter. If you're buying it to actually listen to the "industrial" sounds of the Max Martin and Shellback production, you might want a high-fidelity setup. Or, you know, just stream it and keep the vinyl for the shelf.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Target Exclusive" Label
There’s a common misconception that the Target version of the album had extra songs. It didn't. Unlike 1989 (which had New Romantics) or Midnights (which had Hits Different), the reputation album at Target had the same 15 tracks as every other version.
The "exclusivity" was entirely in the physical experience. You got the posters. You got the magazines. You got the double-sided 19" x 9.5" inserts.
- The CD Sleeve: In the magazine versions, the CD isn't in a plastic case. It’s in a cardboard sleeve. Collectors actually hate this because it can lead to scratches, but it was necessary to fit inside the book format.
- The Posters: The standard Target CD came with one of five random double-sided posters. The magazines had their own specific, non-random posters.
- The Logo: You'll see the Big Machine Records logo on these. In 2026, with the "Taylor's Version" project nearly complete, these original pressings have become weirdly historic artifacts.
Buying It in 2026: What You Need to Know
Can you still find the taylor swift album reputation target version in stores? It's hit or miss. Target still stocks the standard jewel case CD and the picture disc vinyl. However, the magazines were a limited run.
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If you're hunting for them now, verify the "TCIN" or UPC codes. For the vinyl, the UPC is 843930033157. For the magazines, you're looking for BMRCO0600B (Vol 1) and BMRCO0600C (Vol 2).
Check the "used" bins at local record stores. Often, someone will trade in their old magazines not realizing they're worth double the original retail price. Also, look closely at the condition of the CD sleeve inside the back cover. If it’s been pulled out and shoved back in a hundred times, the cardboard is likely torn.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors
If you are trying to complete your reputation collection through Target, here is the move:
- Check Local Stock: Use the Target app to search for "reputation vinyl" specifically. If it says "Limited Stock," call the store. Often, it's hidden in the back or mis-shelved in the "Soundtrack" section.
- Verify the Pressing: If you buy the vinyl, make sure you have a turntable with an adjustable counterweight. If it skips on a cheap player, don't return it immediately—try it on a friend's higher-end setup first.
- Hunt the Magazines: Don't buy "Acceptable" condition on eBay. These magazines are made of heavy cardstock that creases easily. Look for "Near Mint" or "Sealed" to ensure the poster hasn't been ripped out.
The reputation era was about Taylor taking back her narrative. Buying the physical copies from Target was the way we got to read that narrative in her own handwriting. It's a piece of pop history that, frankly, a digital download just can't replicate.