Taylor Swift ties with Nicki Minaj in battle for hits record

Taylor Swift has tied with rapper Nicki Minaj after scoring her 70th hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The pop superstar's new duet with Zayn Malik, I Don't Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker), enters the new countdown at number six, marking Taylor's 20th top 10 entry. Only five other women have achieved such a feat, with Madonna leading all acts with 38.

However, the single is also Taylor's 70th mention on the Hot 100 throughout her career so far, putting her on par with Nicki as the second most prolific female artist in the countdown's history.

The hip hop star edged ahead of Taylor last week (ends16Dec16) after Black Barbies, her reworking of rap brothers Rae Sremmurd's Black Beatles smash, climbed to 65 on the chart.

The two ladies, who are tied once more, are now just three hits behind Aretha Franklin.

Meanwhile, Black Beatles remains at number one in the Hot 100 for a sixth week, with The Weeknd's Starboy sitting at two and The Chainsmokers and Halsey's Closer tune at three.