Target to host midnight release of Swift's The Life of a Showgirl

Taylor Swift will return to brick and mortar retail for the first hours of her new album release as Target announced it will open about 500 stores at midnight local time on Oct. 3 to sell copies of The Life of a Showgirl, the pop star's 12th studio album. The retailer will carry three Target exclusive CD editions, each packaged with alternate artwork and a foldout poster, and all editions are available for preorder online, Target said.

Swift revealed The Life of a Showgirl during an appearance on the New Heights podcast hosted by fiancé Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce. The album, which she described as the record she has wanted to make for a long time, was presented with a 12-song track list and credited to collaborations with producers Max Martin and Shellback. Swift told the podcast she aimed for melodies "so infectious, you're almost angry at it." A title-track collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter has also been reported.

Target said participating stores will remain open beyond normal hours rather than closing and reopening, and stock will be made available at the designated midnight hour. The chain announced three exclusive CD editions subtitled Its Frightening, Its...