Yahoo Finance Taylor Swift’s music catalogue sold for $300 million, and she’s not happy about it
Taylor Swift first studio album was released in 2006 by Big Machine Records when she was just 16 years old.
Now, 13 years later, Taylor Swift’s music catalogue from then all the way through to her 2017 album Reputation will be owned by music manager, Scooter Braun.
In a deal reportedly worth $300 million, Braun’s company, Ithaca Holdings LLC, will own six of Swift’s albums as well as music from artists Sheryl Crow and Lady Antebellum.
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While that seems relatively harmless news, Swift, who has kept a tight lid on her relationships and reactions since the controversy which sparked Kanye West’s song “Famous”, was “sad and grossed out” by the ordeal.
Swift, who labelled Braun as a “bully” in a lengthy Tumblr post, said this was her “worst case scenario”, given she had tried to own her songs for years, but was refused by Big Machine Records.
“This is what happens when you sign a deal at fifteen to someone for whom the term ‘loyalty’ is clearly just a contractual concept.”
“And when that man says ‘Music has value’, he means its value is beholden to men who had no part in creating it.”
Swift said when she originally left her masters in the hands of former Big Machine Records owner, Scott Borchetta, she was under the impression he would never sell them.
“Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine the buyer would be Scooter.”
Swift alleges Braun “controlled” her by purchasing the label and urged artists to be better in negotiating contracts with labels in the future.
“Thankfully, I left my past in Scott’s hands and not my future,” she said.
“And hopefully, young artists or kids with musical dreams will read this and learn about how to better protect themselves in a negotiation.”
Fans across the globe are expressing support for the pop star on Twitter, with #WeStandWithTaylor currently trending.
THIS IS THE SADDEST FANART I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY WHOLE LIFE. #westandwithtaylor pic.twitter.com/xmqmQ0HDB9
— cristy (@TaylorUnicorn13) July 1, 2019
With some plotting to no longer stream her music from Spotify, and instead download her music illegally.
what we're gonna do is stop streaming taylor's discography in spotify and stick to listening to our illegal downloads. yes, time to finally enjoy the fruits of our crime. 😎 #WeStandWithTaylor pic.twitter.com/7kBfMCyloP
— Aljan (@ajqqrx) July 1, 2019
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