Taylor Swift’s “august” debuted at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2020. The song entered the chart after Folklore’s release, when every track from the album appeared on the listing.
Its Hot 100 debut is distinct from its positions on genre and international charts. For example, “august” debuted and peaked at number five on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, while its later Global 200 peak was number 46.
The track remained on the Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks. It was not released as Folklore’s lead single, but its annual streaming resurgence has kept it culturally visible long after the album’s initial chart week.
The number 23 is therefore the relevant answer for the 2020 Hot 100 debut, not the song’s later chart positions in other countries or on other Billboard charts.