In August 2012, Swift released "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", the lead single from her fourth studio album, Red. It became her first number one in the U.S. and New Zealand,[124][125] and reached the top slot on iTunes' digital song sales chart 50 minutes after its release, earning the Fastest Selling Single in Digital History Guinness World Record.[126] Other singles released from the album include "Begin Again", "I Knew You Were Trouble", "22", "Everything Has Changed", "The Last Time", and "Red". "I Knew You Were Trouble" reached the top five on charts in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S.[127] Three singles , "Begin Again", "22", and "Red", reached the top 20 in the U.S.[52]
Red was released on October 22, 2012.[128] On Red, Swift worked with new producers besides longtime collaborators Nathan Chapman and Liz Rose: Max Martin, Shellback, Dann Huff, Jeff Bhasker, Butch Walker, Dan Wilson, and Jacknife Lee.[129] The album incorporates new genres for Swift, such as heartland rock, dubstep and dance-pop.[130] The album debuted at number one on the Billboard200 with first-week sales of 1.21 million copies. This made Swift the first female to have two million-selling album openings, a record recognized by the Guinness World Records.[131][132] It was Swift's first number-one album in the U.K.[133] The Red Tour ran from March 2013 to June 2014 and grossed over $150 million, becoming the highest-grossing country tour when it completed.[134]
Red had sold eight million copies by 2014.[135] The album earned several accolades, including four nominations at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014.[136] Its single "I Knew You Were Trouble" won Best Female Video at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.[137] Swift received American Music Awards for Best Female Country Artist in 2012, and Artist of the Year in 2013.[138][139] She received the Nashville Songwriters Association's Songwriter/Artist Award for the fifth and sixth consecutive years in 2012 and 2013.[140] Swift was honored by the Association with a special Pinnacle Award, making her the second recipient of the accolade after Garth Brooks.[141] During this time, she had a short-term relationship with English singer Harry Styles.[142]