Taylor Swift Reclaims Her Masters: Finally Owns All Her Music and Legacy

After six years of struggle, Taylor Swift announces she now owns her entire music catalog, putting an end to a long-running industry battle and cementing her creative independence.

In a landmark move that has captivated fans and music industry watchers alike, Taylor Swift has officially reclaimed ownership of her entire music catalog — a victory that ends a years-long battle for her masters. On Friday, May 30, Swift took to her website to share the emotional news, marking a new era in her storied career.

Contrary to the swirling rumors that Swift paid a staggering $1 billion to buy back her masters, a source close to the matter confirmed to PEOPLE that the reported figure is “highly inaccurate.” While the exact sum Swift paid remains undisclosed, what’s certain is the significance of this milestone — both for Swift and for the broader music landscape.

The saga dates back to 2019, when music executive Scooter Braun acquired Big Machine Records from Scott Borchetta, giving Braun control over the master recordings of Swift’s first six albums. Swift, who had signed with Universal Music Group in 2018 and secured ownership of her future recordings in that deal, was left without ownership of her earliest hits.

Braun’s acquisition sparked a wave of headlines and a broader industry conversation about artist rights and creative control. In response, Swift embarked on an ambitious journey to re-record her early albums as “Taylor’s Versions,” ensuring she would own her versions of those iconic songs. Now, she owns everything: from the master recordings to the music videos, the concert films to the album art, and even the unreleased tracks that shaped her sound.

In her deeply personal message, Swift shared her journey and the magnitude of the moment:

“Hi. I’m trying to gather my thoughts into something coherent, but right now my mind is just a slideshow. A flashback sequence of all the times I daydreamed about, wished for, and pined away for a chance to get to tell you this news,” she wrote.

“All the times I was thiiiiiiiiiiiiis close, reaching out for it, only for it to fall through. I almost stopped thinking it could ever happen, after 20 years of having the carrot dangled then yanked away. But that’s all in the past now.”

Swift described the moment of triumph as one filled with overwhelming emotion, revealing that she’s been “bursting into tears of joy at random intervals ever since I found out that this is really happening.” She continued:

“I really get to say these words: All of the music I’ve ever made… now belongs… to me. And all my music videos. All the concert films. The album art and photography. The unreleased songs. The memories. The magic. The madness. Every single era. My entire life’s work.”

Beyond her personal victory, Swift acknowledged the impact her fight has had on the music industry and emerging artists:

“Every time a new artist tells me they negotiated to own their master recordings in their record contract because of this fight, I’m reminded of how important it was for all of this to happen.”

She concluded her heartfelt statement with gratitude for her fans, writing:

“Thank you for being curious about something that used to be thought of as too industry-centric for broad discussion. You’ll never know how much it means to me that you cared. Every single bit of it counted, and ended us up here.”

“The best things that have ever been mine… finally actually are.”

This milestone not only solidifies Swift’s position as one of the most influential artists of her generation but also underscores her commitment to creative control and artist empowerment. As she enters this new chapter, Swift’s story will undoubtedly continue to inspire musicians and fans for generations to come.