Taylor Swift Acquires Her Masters: A Victory for Artist Rights
May 30, 2025: Global pop icon Taylor Swift has successfully acquired the master recordings of her first six studio albums, ending a years-long battle for ownership. The albums include:
- Taylor Swift (2006)
- Fearless (2008)
- Speak Now (2010)
- Red (2012)
- 1989 (2014)
- Reputation (2017)
Swift announced the news on Friday via a handwritten letter posted on her official website, stating emotionally: “All of the music I’ve ever made now belongs to me.”
How Much Did Taylor Swift Pay for Her Masters?
While Taylor Swift did not publicly reveal the exact price of the deal, sources cited by Billboard estimate that she paid close to $360 million, roughly what Shamrock Capital had paid in 2021 for the catalog.
Shamrock Capital expressed support, stating:
“We are thrilled with this outcome and are so happy for Taylor.”
Background: The Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun Dispute
The fight for Swift’s masters began in 2019, when Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings acquired Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) for $330 million. This acquisition included the rights to Swift’s original recordings. Swift claimed she was neither informed of the sale nor given a fair opportunity to purchase her work.
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In November 2020, Braun sold the masters to Shamrock Capital for $405 million. Swift declined a partnership with Shamrock after learning Braun would continue to profit from the deal. She then began re-recording her albums to regain creative and commercial control.
Taylor’s Versions: Reclaiming Her Legacy
Since 2020, Swift has released re-recorded versions of her first four albums, dubbed “Taylor’s Version.” These include:
- Fearless (Taylor’s Version)
- Red (Taylor’s Version)
- Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
- 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
Each re-release was critically and commercially successful, often outperforming the original versions on charts and streaming platforms.
A New Era for Taylor Swift
In between re-recording projects, Swift has continued to release new music, including her 2024 hit album “The Tortured Poets Department,” announced during the Grammys and released amid her record-breaking Eras Tour.
With full ownership of her master recordings now secured, Taylor Swift has set a precedent in the music industry for artist rights, independence, and empowerment.