Not many people can claim to have had a career spanning over 15 years by the age of 30. But for international pop star Taylor Swift, starting her musical journey at the age of 14 seemed like a natural and inevitable choice that has greatly paid off. In 2019, at just 30 years old, she was honored with the AMA’s “Artist of the Decade Award.” Taylor has shattered numerous musical records and has become one of the most decorated artists of all time. However, when she’s not busy creating music and writing lyrics, she dedicates her efforts to transforming the music industry.
Streaming Controversy
Swift, as she gained more influence and power, decided to speak out against the injustices prevailing in the music industry. Upon discovering that artists and musicians weren’t receiving royalties during Spotify’s free trial period, she took a bold step by removing all her music from streaming services. Taylor wrote an open letter to Apple Music, highlighting the importance of artists, both big and small, being able to earn money from their music. Following media attention and public pressure, Apple ultimately agreed to provide artists with royalties even during the free trial. This movement caught on, and other streaming services followed suit. In 2017, Taylor made the unprecedented move of re-releasing her music on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. This action not only highlighted the power struggle between streaming services and musicians but also brought about a significant change in the power dynamics within the industry.
Reclaiming Her Artistic Independence
Currently, Taylor is embarking on a groundbreaking project that is reshaping the music industry: re-recording her past albums. Not many people are aware that artists do not actually own the music they create; instead, it belongs to the record label. Many artists sign their first record deals at a young age, often without a clear understanding of the implications. Swift’s masters were all sold to record executive Scooter Braun, which means he now owns all of her pre-2019 album “Lover” music. Every time someone streams Taylor’s music, she doesn’t receive any monetary compensation, but Braun does. Speaking up against this unfair practice, Taylor believes that artists should have ownership of their own work, not just for financial reasons, but also because it represents their life’s legacy. By re-recording her earlier albums, Taylor is taking a stand and striving to promote a fairer working model between artists and record labels. This move is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.
Image Source: Taylor Swift @ Instagram
