Taylor Swift has successfully bought back the rights to her first six albums, officially marking a significant victory in her ongoing struggle for ownership of her music. The announcement came via her website, where Swift expressed her overwhelming joy by stating, "All of the music I've ever made now belongs to me." This heartfelt message reflects the culmination of an arduous journey that began in June 2019 when Scooter Braun purchased her former label, Big Machine, along with the master recordings of her initial albums: Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, and Reputation.
Taylor Swift Reclaims Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Taylor Swift Reclaims Ownership of Her First Six Albums
The iconic singer secures the rights to her music, marking the end of a long-standing battle over her master recordings.
From the beginning, Swift voiced strong objections to Braun's acquisition, associating him with the bullying she faced from Kanye West. In her statement, Swift revealed how reclaiming her music seemed unattainable for years. "To say this is my greatest dream come true is actually being pretty reserved about it," she wrote, expressing gratitude for her fans' unwavering support throughout the ordeal. She highlighted the emotional toll of waiting two decades for this moment, stating, "I almost stopped thinking it could ever happen."
In the music industry, owning the master recording is crucial as it grants control over distribution and licensing—providing artists a safeguard for their works. Following the tumultuous sale of her songs, Swift began re-recording her albums, a strategy aimed at diminishing the value of her previous masters. To date, she has released four re-recorded albums with new bonus tracks. However, she noted that the re-recording of her complex Reputation album has not yet been completed due to its deeply personal nature.
In her announcement, Swift emphasized the emotional weight behind each re-recorded song and hinted at exciting future releases, including vault tracks that fans may be eager to hear. The artist's long-standing commitment to her craft shines through as she reflects on the significance of her music and the importance of ownership.
The journey of Taylor Swift's ownership started in 2004 when she entered into a recording contract that gave Big Machine control over her initial albums indefinitely. Consequently, when Braun announced the purchase of the label in 2019 without Swift's prior knowledge, it ignited fierce criticism from the artist, who referred to Braun's actions as an act of a "toxic male privilege." Swift noted she had attempted to buy her masters for years but was denied the chance.
In a significant twist, Braun eventually sold the rights to her back catalog to an investment fund in late 2020, a decision that disappointed Swift once again as the terms allowed Braun to continue to profit from her music. Despite these challenges, Swift's successful re-recording strategy has garnered both critical praise and commercial success, culminating in achievements such as the Grammy Award-winning albums Folklore and Midnights.
With her ability to now license her original recordings, Swift marked a new beginning in her career. She cited the success of her recent Eras Tour as instrumental in enabling her to buy back her music. Reflecting on her journey, she expressed hope that her experience serves as an inspiration for new artists negotiating ownership of their master recordings. "You'll never know how much it means to me that you cared. Every single bit of it counted, and ended us up here," she concluded.
In the music industry, owning the master recording is crucial as it grants control over distribution and licensing—providing artists a safeguard for their works. Following the tumultuous sale of her songs, Swift began re-recording her albums, a strategy aimed at diminishing the value of her previous masters. To date, she has released four re-recorded albums with new bonus tracks. However, she noted that the re-recording of her complex Reputation album has not yet been completed due to its deeply personal nature.
In her announcement, Swift emphasized the emotional weight behind each re-recorded song and hinted at exciting future releases, including vault tracks that fans may be eager to hear. The artist's long-standing commitment to her craft shines through as she reflects on the significance of her music and the importance of ownership.
The journey of Taylor Swift's ownership started in 2004 when she entered into a recording contract that gave Big Machine control over her initial albums indefinitely. Consequently, when Braun announced the purchase of the label in 2019 without Swift's prior knowledge, it ignited fierce criticism from the artist, who referred to Braun's actions as an act of a "toxic male privilege." Swift noted she had attempted to buy her masters for years but was denied the chance.
In a significant twist, Braun eventually sold the rights to her back catalog to an investment fund in late 2020, a decision that disappointed Swift once again as the terms allowed Braun to continue to profit from her music. Despite these challenges, Swift's successful re-recording strategy has garnered both critical praise and commercial success, culminating in achievements such as the Grammy Award-winning albums Folklore and Midnights.
With her ability to now license her original recordings, Swift marked a new beginning in her career. She cited the success of her recent Eras Tour as instrumental in enabling her to buy back her music. Reflecting on her journey, she expressed hope that her experience serves as an inspiration for new artists negotiating ownership of their master recordings. "You'll never know how much it means to me that you cared. Every single bit of it counted, and ended us up here," she concluded.
