Library of Congress adds '1989', 'Single Ladies'

The Library of Congress on May 14 added Taylor Swift’s 2014 album “1989” and Beyoncé’s 2008 single “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” to the National Recording Registry, the federal institution’s annual list of recordings selected for preservation. Acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen named 25 recordings in the 2026 class, the Library said. The selections also included works by Chaka Khan, Weezer, Vince Gill, The Go-Go’s, Ray Charles and Reba McEntire. The Library said the additions brought the registry to 700 titles. (newsroom.loc.gov) (blogs.loc.gov) The Library of Congress said the registry recognizes recordings judged to be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” Twenty-five recordings are added each year, and the Librarian of Congress makes the selections after reviewing public nominations and consulting curators and members of the National Recording Preservation Board, according to the Library’s registry materials. ### Which Taylor Swift and Beyoncé recordings were selected? Taylor Swift’s “1989” and Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” were among the 25 recordings announced on May 14. (newsroom.loc.gov) The Library’s newsroom release described “1989” as Swift’s “transformative pop album” and called “Single Ladies” a standout recording in Beyoncé’s catalog. The 2026 selections marked the first recordings by Swift and Beyoncé chosen for the registry, the Library said. The announcement placed both artists alongside older recordings spanning from Spike Jones and His City Slickers’ 1944 “Cocktails for Two” to Swift’s 2014 album. (loc.gov) ### Who else made the 2026 class? Weezer’s self-titled debut “Weezer (The Blue Album),” Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” Chaka Khan’s “I Feel for You” and The Go-Go’s “Beauty and the Beat” were also selected, according to the Library. (newsroom.loc.gov) The full class also included José Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad,” Ray Charles’ “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music,” the original Broadway cast album of “Chicago,” and Reba McEntire’s “Rumor Has It.” The 2026 list also added the “Doom” video game soundtrack. (newsroom.loc.gov) The Library said it was the third time video game music had been selected for the registry. ### How does the registry decide what belongs? The National Recording Registry is a list of sound recordings the Library says are of enduring importance to American culture. The Library’s FAQ says the recordings are not necessarily chosen as the “best” of all time, but as works considered significant enough to merit permanent preservation by the Library or another qualified institution. (newsroom.loc.gov) Under the Library’s published rules, a recording must be at least 10 years old and must still exist in some form to be eligible. Members of the public may nominate up to 50 recordings each calendar year, and the Library said it received more than 3,000 nominations this year. (newsroom.loc.gov) ### What stood out in this year’s announcement? Robert R. Newlen said in the Library’s release that music and recorded sound are “essential” parts of daily life and national heritage. The Library also said Weezer was among the most publicly nominated selections in this year’s class. (loc.gov) Rosanne Cash’s 1993 album “The Wheel” created another first for the registry. The Library said its selection meant that Cash and her father, Johnny Cash, became the first daughter and father both represented in the registry; Johnny Cash’s “At Folsom Prison” was added in 2003. (loc.gov) ### Where does the process go from here? The Library of Congress has posted the full 2026 National Recording Registry class on its website, along with background on each selection. The agency’s nomination page says members of the public can continue submitting recordings for future consideration, with the Librarian of Congress making the annual selections after reviewing those entries and consulting the National Recording Preservation Board. (newsroom.loc.gov) (blogs.loc.gov)