Singer caught off guard as she denies knowledge of secret deal
Taylor Swift’s ongoing feud with her former music label took a new turn on Monday, as the pop star reiterated her stance that Scooter Braun’s acquisition of Big Machine Label Group caught her by surprise.
After Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta attempted to clarify the situation in a blog post, a source familiar with the matter refuted his claims to USA TODAY on Monday. The source explained that Swift’s father, Scott Swift, chose not to participate in a shareholders call on June 25 as it would have required him to withhold information from his daughter due to a non-disclosure agreement.
Borchetta claimed that Swift and other shareholders were informed about a pending deal with Braun’s company. He also mentioned that he texted Swift about the deal the night before news of it broke to the public. However, the source revealed that Swift woke up to news alerts about the deal before seeing Borchetta’s text, and he did not call her.
In a detailed Tumblr post, Swift described the acquisition as her “worst-case scenario,” accusing Braun of years of “incessant, manipulative bullying” and attempting to control her despite her wishes to remain distant from him.
Braun’s wife, Yael Cohen Braun, defended him in an Instagram post, claiming that Swift’s father was notified about the deal and Borchetta personally informed Swift before it was made public. This led to a back-and-forth on social media between supporters of Swift and Braun.
Swift fans argued that Braun’s actions were malicious, especially after a deleted Instagram post implied that Braun had “purchased” Swift as a product. This intensified the outcry from Swift’s supporters, who viewed the situation as another example of unfair treatment of women in the music industry.
Braun’s acquisition of Big Machine Record means he now owns Swift’s entire catalog up to her 2017 album “Reputation.” Swift disclosed that while she had accepted the idea that her work might be sold, she never imagined it would be to Braun, a figure she has had past disputes with.
Swift’s decision to move to Universal Music Group last year and her upcoming album “Lover” underscore her desire to have more control over her music. She highlighted the importance of young artists protecting themselves in negotiations and asserted that artists should own the art they create.
Several celebrities have weighed in on the controversy, with Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber, Demi Lovato, Todrick Hall, Halsey, and Iggy Azalea expressing their opinions. The ongoing dispute has sparked a broader conversation about power dynamics in the music industry and the rights of artists over their own work.
The clash between Swift and Braun continues to dominate headlines, with supporters of both sides defending their positions passionately. As the situation unfolds, it raises significant questions about artistic ownership, industry influence, and the treatment of women in the music business.
