Taylor Swift vs. The Industry: How She Redefined Music Ownership
Taylor Swift’s battle with the music industry over ownership rights has reshaped how artists approach their work and has ignited discussions about creative control in an era dominated by record labels.
Her feud with Big Machine Records, the label that controlled the masters of her first six albums, began in 2019 when Scooter Braun’s company, Ithaca Holdings, acquired the label, giving him ownership of Swift’s master recordings.
Feeling betrayed and powerless, Swift publicly voiced her frustration, arguing that artists should have the right to own their work.
Instead of backing down, she devised a bold plan—re-recording her albums to regain control of her catalog.
By releasing “Taylor’s Version” editions of her past albums, she encouraged fans to support her new recordings, effectively diminishing the value of the originals held by Braun.
This strategy not only underscored her business acumen but also set a precedent for other artists seeking autonomy over their work.
Swift’s fight exposed the exploitative nature of traditional record contracts, prompting a broader industry discussion about fairer deals for musicians.
As an independent powerhouse, she has used her platform to advocate for artist rights, influencing streaming services like Apple Music to pay artists fairly and ensuring that younger musicians learn the importance of negotiating ownership rights.