Latest news with #Evermore
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift Buys Back Her Catalog: How We Got Here
Taylor Swift's years-long saga to win back the rights to her first six albums will go down as one of the most significant storylines in the history of the modern music business, as the dispute brought the complex, often dry world of copyright and master ownership further into the national consciousness. At the same time, the conflict grew her own superstardom to stratospheric heights as the Taylor's Version re-releases became massive hits in their own right. Swift isn't the first artist to re-record her music, though the practice will forever be synonymous with her as she took on the ambitious task of recreating her old albums all over again, while also managing to record and release four new albums (Folklore, Evermore, Midnights and The Tortured Poets Department) and net the highest-grossing concert tour of all time. More from The Hollywood Reporter Taylor Swift Buys Back Rights To Her First Six Albums Years After Scooter Braun Drama Mike Sumler, Kool & the Gang Hype Man, Dies at 71 Who's Who in the Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial: Key Witnesses, Industry Enablers and Victims So Far As Swift announced Friday, she's officially bought bought back ownership of the records, bringing this chapter to a close. With Swift re-united with her original works at last, let's take a look back on how we got here today. June 2019 — Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings Buys Big Machine The saga began on June 30, 2019, when the news dropped that Scooter Braun, then-manager to stars like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, had bought Scott Borchetta's Big Machine Label Group for $300 million through his company Ithaca Holdings. With the deal, Ithaca got the rights to music from acts like Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Reba McEntire, and of course of Swift, who was Big Machine's biggest act until she left the label for Universal Music Group's Republic Records in 2018. Swift quickly voiced her displeasure with the sale, taking to her Tumblr that day to say she learned of the deal 'as it was announced to the world,' calling it 'my worst case scenario,' while citing 'incessant, manipulative bullying' from Braun for years. 'Any time Scott Borchetta has heard the words 'Scooter Braun' escape my lips, it was when I was either crying or trying not to,' Swift wrote at the time. 'He knew what he was doing; they both did. Controlling a woman who didn't want to be associated with them.' Borchetta responded with a long missive of his own that day, denying Swift's claim that she hadn't heard about the sale before the announcement while also adding he'd 'never experienced' seeing Swift's negative reactions about Braun. August 2019 — Swift Confirms Plans to Re-Record Her Big Machine Era Music Within two months of the sale, Swift confirmed that she planned on re-recording her music so she could gain control of the masters on at least a version of her first six albums. In an interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America in front of scores of Swifities, Swift said 'It's something I'm really excited about doing, because my contract says that starting November 2020, I can record albums one through five all over again.' November 2019 — Swift Said Braun and Borchetta Wouldn't Allow Her to Play Old Songs at AMAs Swift took to Twitter on November 14, claiming that as part of the American Music Awards honoring her as artist of the decade, she wanted to perform a medley of her hits, but that Braun and Borchetta were blocking the use of those songs 'because they claim that would be re-recording my music before I'm allowed to next year.' Braun posted that he and his family received death threats, further stating that 'as the world now knows you can and should perform any song you would like at the AMAs. I have never and would never say otherwise. You do not need anyone's permission to do so legally but I am stating it here clearly and publicly so there is no more debate or confusion.' Swift played the medley at the AMAs. 2020: Ithaca Sells Swift's Catalog to Shamrock Capital On Nov. 16, 2020, Shamrock, a private equity firm founded by Roy Disney, purchased Swift's catalog from Braun and Ithaca for about $300 million, netting Braun as much as he paid for the entirety of Big Machine the year prior. Swift came forward about the sale that day, writing that 'this was the second time my music had been sold without my knowledge.' Swift claimed that her team had attempted to enter into negotiations with Scooter Braun, writing: 'Scooter's team wanted me to sign an ironclad NDA stating I would never say another word about Scooter Braun unless it was positive, before we could even look at the financial records of BMLG (which is always the first step in a purchase of this nature). So, I would have to sign a document that would silence me forever before I could even have a chance to bid on my own work.' As Shamrock sold the catalog to Swift nearly five years later, Swift thanked the company Friday for 'being the first people to ever offer this to me.' That assertion has come under scrutiny by people with knowledge of the initial Shamrock acquisition, with a source close to Braun telling The Hollywood Reporter, 'There's documented proof, by way of verified emails, confirming Taylor Swift was offered the opportunity to buy back her masters prior to Shamrock Capital's acquisition. This has been reported on at length over the last several years.' A 2023 report from Music Business Worldwide also revealed conversations between Braun and Swift's camps for a deal before going to Shamrock, though that clearly never happened. 2021 — 2023: The 'Taylor's Version' Era Takes Over On Feb. 11, 2021, Swift confirmed that Fearless, her first No. 1 album, would be the first album she'd re-record from the Big Machine era, launching her famed 'Taylor's Version' series. 'I've spoken a lot about why i'm remaking my first six albums, but the way I've chosen to do this will hopefully help illuminate where i'm coming from,' Swift wrote at the time. 'Artists should own their own work for so many reasons, but the most screamingly obvious one is that the artist is the only one who really knows that body of work.' Fearless (Taylor's Version) officially released in April of 2021. She released Red (Taylor's Version) that same year, then released Speak Now (Taylor's Version) and 1989 (Taylor's Version) in 2023. The re-recordings became immensely successful as well; 1989 (Taylor's Version) managed to sell 1.3 million units in the first week alone, besting 1989's debut from a decade prior, even as record sales have fallen since then amid the streaming era. According to Luminate, in the U.S. alone, Fearless (Taylor's Version) has sold 3 million units, Red (Taylor's Version) sold 5.2 million, Speak Now (Taylor's Version) has sold 2.7 million and 1989 (Taylor's Version) has sold 4.9 million. May 30, 2025: Liberation Day Swift rocked the industry once again Friday as she announced she'd closed the deal with Shamrock, bringing 'my entire life's work' back into Swift's possession. Swift didn't disclose financial details of the sale. Billboard reports the deal was worth about $360 million, while a Page Six report from earlier this suggested it could be worth twice that. 'I've been bursting into tears of joy at random intervals ever since I found out that this is really happening,' Swift said. 'I really get to say these words: All of the music I've ever made… now belongs… to me.' Following the reveal, Braun told THR he was 'happy for her.' As for the two remaining Taylor's Version albums, Swift revealed in her letter that she hadn't recorded more than a quarter of Reputation (Taylor's Version), but that the remake of her debut album was done. 'Those 2 albums can still have their moments to re-emerge when the time is right, if that would be something you guys would be excited about,' Swift wrote. 'But if it happens, it won't be from a place of sadness and longing for what I wish I could have. It will just be a celebration now.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
Forbes
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Taylor Swift's ‘Evermore' Stands Out From Her Chart Successes
Taylor Swift is always present on the Billboard charts – always. At times, the superstar is everywhere, thanks to the release of a new single or a hotly-anticipated album drop. But even during quieter frames, like this current one, when there's no just-released material or promotional campaign fueling momentum, Swifties are still busy streaming and buying her past releases. This continued fan loyalty ensures that several of her full-lengths remain on the charts at all times. This week, Swift once again proves her popularity as 10 albums appear on various Billboard rankings. Among that bunch, one title rises above the rest and manages a feat none of the others can claim: climbing on more than one list. This frame, 10 of Swift's albums find space somewhere on the Billboard charts. Most of them land on more than one list, though nearly half are present on just a single tally. Across the board, the general trend is downward, with most of her full-lengths losing ground. That's not really a bad sign, though – it just means this isn't a busy period for the singer-songwriter. A few projects do manage to gain slightly, but just one title defies that pattern and stands out for climbing on multiple charts simultaneously. Evermore is the only album in Swift's discography that improves its standing on more than one Billboard chart this week. The set jumps two rungs on the Billboard 200, moving from second-to-last place to No. 197. On the Top Rock & Alternative Albums tally, Evermore also improves, stepping up one position No. 45. That roster ranks the most-consumed rock and alternative-only collections in the U.S., while the Billboard 200 includes all genres and styles. Only three other Swift albums manage to rise at all, and each one surges on just a single list. Fearless (Taylor's Version) appears on only one tally, the Top Country Albums ranking, where it moves from the lowest position to No. 49. 1989 (Taylor's Version) continues to perform fairly well, though this week is a mixed bag for the re-recorded take on 1989. On the Billboard 200, the bestseller drops a few spots, but on the Top Album Sales chart, which counts only pure purchases, the project pushes north by a single space, No. 50 to No. 49. Red (Taylor's Version) is steady on the Billboard 200, though it does manage a minor bump on the Top Country Albums chart. On that style-specific roster, it climbs from No. 29 to No. 27. While a few titles manage to grow or remain steady, the rest of Swift's catalog is on the decline on Billboard's lists. The Tortured Poets Department, Lover, Folklore, Midnights, and Reputation all appear on the Billboard 200, with several of them also featured on other rankings, but not one of them is rising.
Forbes
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Taylor Swift's Resurgence Is Underway — Not That She Needed A Comeback
Taylor Swift charts 10 albums this week, with Folklore leading a trio of returning titles and ... More Evermore and Fearless (Taylor's Version) just making it back. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 02: Taylor Swfit speaks onstage during the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Arena on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo byfor The Recording Academy) Taylor Swift currently claims 10 spots across Billboard's albums charts, and three of those projects manage to return to one tally apiece. While comebacks from older titles aren't unusual for Swift, what makes this frame especially interesting is that none of the sets that find their way back do so on the same ranking as the others, as her surges are spread out across a variety of lists. Among the three albums from her catalog that reappear this week, Folklore manages the most impressive comeback. The surprise 2020 release returns to the Top Album Sales chart, which ranks the bestselling full-lengths in the U.S. based purely on purchases. Folklore settles at No. 39, pushed upward by a spike that sees it sell about 15,200 copies in the latest tracking period, according to Luminate. That's a significant jump from last frame, when it was absent from the list altogether. The second-highest-ranking return among Swift's titles this frame belongs to Fearless (Taylor's Version). The 2021 re-recording of her breakout sophomore set finds its way to the Top Country Albums chart — but only just. It lands at No. 50, ranking as one of the 50 most-consumed country projects in the country. Evermore, Swift's other surprise pandemic-era release, also claws its way back onto a familiar tally. The sister set to Folklore reenters the Billboard 200, the all-genre ranking of the most-consumed albums in the U.S. This time around, it returns at No. 199, nearly failing to break back in at all. Among all 10 of Swift's currently-charting albums, Folklore is the clear standout this week. In addition to its sales-driven comeback, the project appears on four Billboard rankings, more than any other Swift release this time around. Folklore is gaining traction on every chart it currently appears on, not just holding steady, as it enjoys something of a small resurgence in popularity. As is almost always the case, Swift remains a powerhouse on the Billboard 200. This week, she occupies eight spaces on the all-genre albums chart, which means nearly 10% of the roster is made up of Swift titles — an impressive feat, especially considering none of them are brand new. Her charting albums this frame include: The Tortured Poets Department (No. 18), Lover (No. 53), Folklore (No. 56), Midnights (No. 59), 1989 (Taylor's Version) (No. 67), Reputation (No. 101), Red (Taylor's Version) (No. 155), and finally, Evermore (No. 199).
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Grammy watch: Listen to awards contenders from Chappell Roan, Playboi Carti, Haim, Lil Nas X, Lizzo
New music drops every Friday. Here are some of the noteworthy awards contenders that debuted on or around March 14, 2025. The sister band's first new single in three years puts them back in the awards conversation five years after their last studio album, 2020's Women in Music Pt. III, which was nominated for Album of the Year. To date, Haim have been nominated four times, also including Best New Artist in 2015 and Best Rock Performance for "The Steps" in 2021. They were also nominated for Album of the Year as featured artists on Taylor Swift's Evermore in 2022. They haven't won yet, but their profile may be higher than ever thanks to their side projects. Alana Haim ventured into acting, earning Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for 2021's Licorice Pizza. Meanwhile, Este Haim branched out into composing on projects including Maid, Do Revenge, and Anyone but You. Look for them in rock and/or alternative categories at the very least. More from GoldDerby Box-office predictions: 'Novocaine' aiming to shoot down 'Mickey 17' with $10 million+ debut Extremely early Emmy odds: 'Hacks,' 'The Bear' expected to dominate comedy acting races (again) 'Yellowjackets' star Steven Krueger breaks down Coach Ben's 'tragic' fate and that shocking cliffhanger SEEChappell Roan uses Best New Artist Grammys speech to call out record labels who 'betray' their artists It's been an up-and-down few years for Lil Nas X. He exploded on the scene with "Old Town Road," which won him two Grammys to go along with an Album of the Year nom for his EP 7. Then he released a critically acclaimed, double-platinum studio album, Montero, which was also nominated for Album of the Year. His output since then, however, has failed to catch on. His 2024 single "J Christ" generated controversy, but didn't make a lot of noise on the charts. Nothing he has released since then has even charted. But that didn't stop him from releasing five singles over the course of the last five days: "Dreamboy," "Big Dummy," "Swish," "Right There," and now "Hotbox." He'll need bona fide hits to put him back on the Recording Academy's radar, though. It has been four years since his last top-10. Grammy voters may put a question mark on that title: still bad? Like Lil Nas X, Lizzo is aiming for a comeback, but legal trouble has cast a shadow over her career. In 2023 three former backup dancers sued her for sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, among other offenses. Have fans and industry colleagues forgiven and forgotten? "Still Bad" is her second new song in two weeks, following "Love in Real Life" on Feb. 28. Will either of them match the success of No. 1 blockbuster "Truth Hurts" or Grammy-winning Record of the Year "About Damn Time"? Or has she been well and truly cancelled? SEE'Abracadabra' vs. 'Disease': Debating which Lady Gaga 'Mayhem' song has the best chance at 2026 Grammys The week's highest-profile new album, Music comes five years after Playboi Carti's last release, the chart-topping Whole Lotta Red. The rapper has never won a Grammy despite two nominations as a featured artist and songwriter: Album of the Year in 2022 for Kanye West's Donda and Best Rap Song in 2025 for West and Ty Dolla $ign's "Carnival." He has had other successful collabs since Red, including "Timeless" with The Weeknd, "Fein" with Travis Scott, and "Type Shit" with Future, Metro Boomin, and Scott, all top-10 hits. So expect a strong debut for this solo effort, especially with a whopping 30 tracks to fuel his streaming numbers. Much will depend on how long it sticks around. Chappell Roan has been teasing this song for a while, but she has finally released "The Giver" as a single. It's her first since 2024's "Good Luck, Babe!," which earned Grammy noms for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance to go along with her Album of the Year bid for The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. The new song is a genre departure for the industry's latest pop queen, so the reigning Best New Artist may just follow Beyoncé and Post Malone into the awards' country categories. Perhaps we'll even get a new album before the eligibility period ends. Best of GoldDerby Billboard Hot 100: Every No. 1 song of 2025 Billboard 200: Chart-topping albums of 2025 Who Needs a Grammy to Reach EGOT? Click here to read the full article.
USA Today
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
‘No Body, No Crime': Taylor Swift fans love photo of Este Haim at Olive Garden
'No Body, No Crime': Taylor Swift fans love photo of Este Haim at Olive Garden She did it… Although it's not Tuesday night, Este Haim posed in front of an Olive Garden as a playful reference to Taylor Swift's song 'No Body, No Crime.' 'Este's a friend of mine,' Swift sings in an art imitating real life moment as all three Haim sisters — Este, Danielle and Alana — are her cohorts, collaborators and contributors. The Haim sisters sing harmonies on the 'Evermore' track. They begin the haunting melody with, 'He did it, he did it.' In the second verse, Swift's line about the endless breadsticks and salad joint is, 'Este wasn't there Tuesday night at Olive Garden, at her job, or anywhere.' The photo appeared on the Haim sister Instagram account among a carousel of images Friday. The caption wished Este 'happy birthday to the best big sister.' Don't miss any Taylor Swift news; sign up for the free, weekly newsletter This Swift Beat. Follow Bryan West, the USA TODAY Network's Taylor Swift reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.
