Taylor Swift’s “august” reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its release. The song entered the chart dated August 8, 2020, shortly after folklore arrived.
Its chart result was notable because “august” was not issued as a conventional pre-release single. The track benefited from the immediate attention surrounding folklore, which debuted during a period when listeners were consuming music heavily through digital platforms and streaming services.
The song remained on the Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks. Its later annual streaming increases show that chart performance was not the end of its public life. Every August, renewed listener interest gives the song another burst of visibility, even though its original release occurred in July.