Taylor Swift has finally regained control of her master recordings for her first six studio albums after a long-standing dispute with music executive Scooter Braun and private equity firm Shamrock Capital. The purchase price is estimated to be around $360 million, roughly the same amount Shamrock paid to acquire the rights in 2021.
The Background: Swift’s journey to reclaim her master recordings began in 2019 when Braun’s Ithaca Holdings acquired Big Machine Label Group, Swift’s original label, giving him control over her music catalog. Swift publicly spoke out against the deal, sparking a heated debate about artists’ rights and ownership. Shamrock Capital later bought the masters from Braun for $360 million.
The Deal: With this new development, Swift now owns:
– Master Recordings: All master recordings of her first six studio albums, including “Taylor Swift,” “Fearless,” “Speak Now,” “Red,” “1989,” and “Reputation”.
– Music Videos: All of her music videos.
– Concert Films: All concert films.
– Album Art and Photography: All album art and photography.
– Unreleased Songs: All unreleased songs.
Swift’s Reaction: In a heartfelt message on her website, Swift expressed her joy and relief, stating, “I’ve been bursting into tears of joy at random intervals ever since I found out that this is really happening. All of the music I’ve ever made… now belongs… to me.” She also thanked her fans for their support, which she credits with enabling her to buy back her music.
Impact: This landmark deal not only marks a significant victory for Swift but also sets a precedent for artists seeking ownership of their work. The move may also signal the end of new “Taylor’s Version” albums, as Swift now controls her original master recordings.