Taylor's Version She Finally Owns Her Masters!

Taylor Swift Regains Control: Buys Back Master Recordings of First Six Albums

In a monumental victory for artists' rights and a testament to her unwavering determination, Taylor Swift has announced that she now owns the master recordings of her first six albums. This marks the culmination of a long and arduous journey to reclaim ownership of her musical legacy.

The pop superstar shared her elation in a heartfelt letter on her website, describing her feelings as a "flashback sequence" of dreams finally realized. "I’ve been bursting into tears of joy at random intervals ever since I found out that this is really happening," Swift wrote. "All of the music I’ve ever made… now belongs... to me."

This triumph follows Swift's highly publicized battle to regain control of her early discography. Here's a quick recap:

• 2019: Swift lost the rights to her first six albums when her former record label, Big Machine, sold them to Scooter Braun.


• Swift publicly criticized the sale, calling it her "worst case scenario" and accusing Braun of "incessant, manipulative bullying."


• The master recordings were subsequently sold to the investment firm Shamrock Capital.

Shamrock Capital released a statement expressing their satisfaction with the outcome, saying they were "thrilled with this outcome and are so happy for Taylor." Scooter Braun, who had previously denied bullying Swift, stated, "I am happy for her."

To circumvent the issue of not owning her masters, Swift embarked on an ambitious project to re-record her first six albums, branding them "Taylor's Version." So far, she has released:

• Fearless (Taylor’s Version)


• Red (Taylor’s Version)


• Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)


• 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

Swift acknowledged the crucial role her fans, the "Swifties," played in her success, thanking them for their "passionate support" of the re-recorded albums and "The Eras Tour," which grossed more than any other tour on record.

The Eras Tour, a monumental undertaking, saw Swift performing in 50 cities across five continents for 149 shows over nearly two years.

"I can’t thank you enough for helping to reunite me with this art that I have dedicated my life to, but have never owned until now," Swift stated, highlighting the significance of regaining ownership.

Looking ahead, fans are eagerly awaiting the "Taylor's Version" releases of her debut album, "Taylor Swift," and her critically acclaimed album, "Reputation." The demand for the re-recording of "Taylor Swift" has even been dubbed "Debutation" by fans.

Swift revealed that she has completed recording "Taylor Swift (Taylor's Version)," including beloved tracks like "Teardrops on My Guitar" and "Tim McGraw." However, she has only just begun working on "Reputation (Taylor's Version)," home to hits such as "Delicate" and "Look What You Made Me Do."

"Those two albums can still have their moment to re-emerge when the time is right," Swift teased, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.

Taylor Swift's journey to reclaim her masters is more than just a personal victory; it's a powerful statement about the importance of artists' rights and the unwavering spirit of a musician who refused to be silenced. This is a win not just for Taylor Swift, but for every artist who dreams of owning their own creative work.

Tags: Taylor Swift, Music catalog, Master recordings, Big Machine, Scooter Braun, Shamrock Capital, Music rights, Album rights, Music industry, Taylor's albums

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/taylor-swift-buys-back-rights-master-recordings-first-6-albums-rcna209986