Taylor Swift’s Explosive Response to Scooter Braun’s Takeover of Her Music Catalog Sparks Outrage
Taylor Swift has taken to Tumblr to express her disappointment and betrayal over the sale of her Big Machine catalog to music manager Scooter Braun. This move has left Swift feeling devastated and frustrated, as she had been hoping for years to own her own work.
Big Machine Label Group, Swift’s former label, recently sold to Braun’s company, Ithaca Holdings, in a deal worth $300 million. This transaction meant that Swift’s master recordings from her self-titled debut in 2006 to Reputation in 2017 were now under Braun’s ownership.
Swift revealed on Tumblr that she had been denied the opportunity to own her work, despite her persistent requests. Instead, she was offered a deal where she could gradually earn back her albums by signing with Big Machine Records. However, she decided to walk away from this offer, fearing that her past and future would be at risk if she signed on.
In her Tumblr post, Swift spoke candidly about the emotional toll of leaving her music behind, music that she had written in her bedroom and videos that she had funded through years of hard work.
What made the situation even more distressing for Swift was the fact that it was Braun who now owned her catalog. She recounted instances of bullying and manipulation at the hands of Braun and his clients, including a leaked phone call orchestrated by Kim Kardashian and a controversial music video by Kanye West. Swift felt that her legacy was now in the hands of someone who had consistently tried to tear her down.
The sale of her masters to Braun came as a shock to Swift, who had made peace with the idea that they would eventually be sold but never imagined it would be to someone like Braun. She also criticized Big Machine founder Scott Borchetta for allowing this deal to happen, knowing the pain it would cause her.
Following Swift’s Tumblr post, fans and fellow artists rallied behind her with the hashtag #IStandWithTaylor. Artists like Halsey also voiced their support for Swift, acknowledging her right to own the fruit of her labor.
Swift’s emotional and heartfelt post on Tumblr has shed light on the challenges artists face in the music industry when it comes to ownership of their work. Her candid revelations have sparked discussions about the need for artists to have more control over their music and creative output.
