Beyoncé and Taylor Swift show deep respect for each other. Michael Buckner/Billboard, via Getty Images; Robyn Beck/Agence France-Presse &ampmdash; Getty Images

How two pop queens avoid a chart collision

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, the 21st century’s pre-eminent pop stars, have often been cast as competitors, if not rivals. They were first linked this way in 2009 when Kanye West interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards to support Beyoncé. The rivalry has been perpetuated since by armies of superfans.

In reality, they have been mutually supportive and have generally avoided each other when it comes to album releases. When Taylor Swift announced that her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” would come out April 19, Beyoncé said a week later that “Cowboy Carter” would be released March 29. It wasn’t the first time they have avoided a collision on the charts.