Taylor Swift has officially reclaimed ownership of the master recordings for her first six albums, concluding a long-standing conflict over the rights to her music. In an emotional post on her official website, she expressed her happiness, stating, “All of the music I've ever made now belongs to me. I've been bursting into tears of joy... ever since I found out this is really happening.”
This tumultuous journey began in June 2019 when music manager Scooter Braun acquired Big Machine, Swift's former record label, thus gaining control over her albums, which include beloved titles like Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, and 1989. Swift had previously expressed her distress over the acquisition, linking Braun to "incessant, manipulative bullying" she faced, particularly from Kanye West.
In her announcement, Swift reflected on the long, daunting process of regaining her music rights. “To say this is my greatest dream come true is actually being pretty reserved about it,” she mentioned, expressing gratitude to her fans who stood by her throughout this ordeal. Swift previously feared she would never see the day when she could own her music again, stating, “I almost stopped thinking it could ever happen after 20 years."
With ownership of her masters, which allows her to control how her music is distributed and licensed, Swift can now ensure that her work is protected moving forward. In an effort to regain control, she initially began re-recording her previous albums, releasing four "Taylor's Versions" so far, which include reimagined versions of her works alongside bonus tracks.
However, she revealed that progress on re-recording Reputation has stalled. Swift related how the themes in the original 2017 album were uniquely tied to her past experiences, making her hesitant to alter it. Despite this, she teased that some unreleased tracks from the record would eventually be shared, stating they would be celebrated, not a reflection of past grievances.
The master recordings are crucial as they enable Swift to monetize her music fully. While her contract with Big Machine originally stipulated the label's ownership of her early work, this situation has sparked broader discussions about artists’ rights within the industry. Swift voiced her belief that aspiring musicians should have the opportunity to maintain ownership of their work.
In her process to regain ownership, it remains unclear how much Swift invested; the catalog previously sold for $300 million in 2020. Speculations hint she paid significantly more to regain her rights, though these figures have been deemed exaggerated.
Reflecting on her career, Swift highlighted that her recent Eras Tour— which amassed over $2 billion in revenue— played a major role in allowing her to purchase back her music. Swift stated the positive impact of her journey on other artists has uplifted her spirit, mentioning, “Every time a new artist tells me they negotiated to own their master recordings in their record contract because of this fight, I'm reminded of how important it was for all of this to happen."
As her fans celebrate this landmark achievement, Swift looks ahead with optimism, eager to share more of her artistry moving forward.
