30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Taylor Swift reclaims master recordings of first six albums — but it came at a whopping cost
Taylor Swift has regained full ownership of the master recordings of her first six albums, marking the end of a years-long battle over her music rights. The acquisition includes videos, artwork, and unreleased tracks, redefining artist autonomy in the industry.
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Swift Secures Her Music Legacy
From Braun to Autonomy
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The Re-Recording Project: A Turning Point
What Lies Ahead for Remaining Albums
A New Era for Artist Rights
FAQs
What did Taylor Swift regain ownership of?
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In a landmark development for artists' rights, global pop icon Taylor Swift has officially regained ownership of the master recordings of her first six albums. The move brings closure to a protracted and high-profile battle that has drawn industry-wide attention since acquisition, confirmed by in a heartfelt message to fans, includes not only the masters but also videos, concert films, album art, photography, and unreleased material. 'All of the music I've ever made now belongs to me,' Swift wrote. 'I almost stopped thinking it could ever happen.'Though details of the transaction remain under wraps, earlier reports speculating the cost to be between $600 million and $1 billion have been dismissed as inaccurate. However, insiders confirm the price far exceeds the $300 million for which Scooter Braun sold the masters to private equity firm Shamrock Capital in 2020, as mentioned in a report by fallout with Braun began in 2019 when her original label, Big Machine Records, sold the masters of her early work without offering her the right of first refusal. The singer, then signed under Republic Records, had described the sale as her "worst-case scenario." Her prior offer, she said, required her to "earn back" one album at a time by creating new work under the former label — a condition she firmly wrote, 'All I've ever wanted was to work hard enough to one day purchase my music outright — no strings, no partnerships.' She credited Shamrock Capital for treating the transaction with the respect it deserved, calling it not just a business deal but a reunion with 'decades of dreams.'In the wake of the sale to Braun, Taylor Swift embarked on a historic mission to rerecord her original six albums. By releasing them under the "Taylor's Version" branding — including previously unreleased 'From the Vault' tracks — she aimed to undercut the commercial value of the 2021 and 2023, Swift reissued Fearless, Red, Speak Now, and 1989, each breaking records across global charts. As the principal songwriter, Swift was legally entitled to rerecord the tracks and restrict usage of the originals. Some of her rerecorded work even premiered in major TV series, notably Look What You Made Me Do in The Handmaid's Reputation and her 2006 self-titled debut remain unreleased in their rerecorded forms. Swift admitted that recreating Reputation posed unique emotional challenges and has been delayed. Still, she confirmed her debut album has been rerecorded and may be released 'when the time is right.'The Taylor Swift masters saga has triggered industry-wide conversations about ownership, especially among emerging artists. 'Every time a new artist tells me they secured their masters because of this journey, I'm reminded why it was worth it,' she this acquisition, Taylor Swift not only reclaims her creative legacy but sets a new precedent for artist autonomy in the modern music now owns the master recordings of her first six albums, along with videos, concert films, artwork, photography, and unreleased exact figures haven't been disclosed, insiders say the cost exceeded $300 million—more than the $300M paid by Shamrock Capital in 2020.
