5 days ago
'Dream come true': Taylor Swift gains control of her music catalogue
STORY: :: File
Pop superstar Taylor Swift said on Friday she had purchased the master recordings of her first six albums, giving her control of all of her music after a dispute with her former record label.
Swift's masters had been sold in 2019 and she said she was not given the opportunity to buy them at the time.
The singer re-recorded four of the albums with the subtitle "Taylor's Version."
Swift purchased the original recordings from current owner Shamrock Capital in what she called her "greatest dream come true."
No financial terms were disclosed.
In a statement on her website, she said, "I've been bursting into tears of joy at random intervals ever since I found out this is really happening.'
"I really get to say these words: All of the music I've ever made ... now belongs ... to me."
The 35-year-old singer recorded her first six albums with Big Machine Label Group before leaving in 2018 for Universal Music Group.
Music executive Scooter Braun bought Big Machine in 2019.
Swift publicly accused him of bullying her and refusing to give her a chance to purchase her original recordings.
In 2020, Swift said BMG had sold her music to Shamrock. Media reports at the time said the deal was worth more than $300 million.
Representatives for Braun did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Swift praised executives at Shamrock, founded by Walt Disney's nephew Roy E. Disney, as being (quote) "honest, fair and respectful."
