Earlier this year, that was entirely appropriate. signboard Crown Taylor Swift the most powerful person I work in the music industry.
clearly, Quick He is the biggest megastar in modern music. But she's also a talented entrepreneur with a sharp business mind who deftly leverages her considerable influence in the industry.
Several times in the past Quick He has used this influence for the financial improvement of other less successful artists.
What is most admirable is that she used her platform and popularity to exact punishment. big tech For not paying fair compensation to the artist.
However, this history was brought into sharp contrast by the following events. Swift's Latest move: Bringing back her music tick tock the same as part time dance The platform has been widely criticized, especially by music industry insiders. universal music group – Unjust payments by music copyright holders.
simple history lesson
Less than 10 years ago, in October 2014, Swift refused release she was very successful 1989 album on spotify.
He explains his decision at the time. Quick „I have no intention of contributing my life's work to an experiment that I feel cannot fairly compensate the writers, producers, artists, and creators of this music. (I believe) that music has no value and is free. I don’t agree with perpetuating the perception that we should.”
„I have no desire to dedicate my life's work to an experiment that I feel fails to fairly compensate the writers, producers, artists, and creators of this music.“
Taylor Swift on Spotify, 2014
1 month later, Quick Double – her entire catalog spotify. She suggested that this is primarily a protest against: spot The claim that all music on the platform will be available in a „free“ (i.e., ad-funded) tier.
Swift writes: wall street journal: „Music is art, and art is important and rare. Things that are important and rare have value. You should pay for things that are valuable.
“It is my opinion that music should not be free, and I predict that one day individual artists and their labels will decide the price of their albums. I hope they don't underestimate their art.“
„Please don't ask us to give you our music for free.“
Six months after his huge success with Spotify, Quick It has sparked a second battle with another tech giant to improve pay for artists. apple.
In June 2015, Swift publicly advised Apple Music For refusing to pay royalties to music copyright holders when their songs are played on the platform during subscribers' three-month free trial.
„This is shocking and disappointing, and I think it's completely out of line with this historically progressive and generous company.“ Quick said in an online letter to Apple.
“This is not about me. Thankfully, I am working on my fifth album and am able to support myself, the band, crew and entire management team by playing live shows.
“This is about new artists or bands who have just released their first single and are not paid for its success. This is the story of a young songwriter who thought he could be debt-free. This is the story of a producer who strives to innovate and create.“
„We don't ask for free iPhones. Don't ask us to give you our music for free.“
Taylor Swift's letter to Apple, 2015
She added: „We don't ask you for a free iPhone. Don't ask us to give you our music for free.“
Apple relents: in the wake of the incident Swift's Blame, Apple Music agreed immediately To compensate artists and labels for the use of your music during your free trial period.
However, that was nine years ago. A lot has changed since then.
The rise and rise of Swift Inc.
Since 2015, Taylor Swift has risen to the status of unicorn pop megastar, rivaling the level of worldwide popularity. Michael jackson demanded at his height.
in the middle, Quick She has survived battles with the ugly side of the music copyright business and has seen the master rights to her first six albums traded between parties without her approval. (Swift's team had the opportunity to buy those masters back from Scooter Braun. MBW revealed last year, However, no agreement was reached.They were eventually sold to an investment company shamrock capital, own them to this day. )
In response to the popular dramas of those masters, Quick It has paved the way for artists to maintain ownership of their rights.
Quick I own the masters of all albums since 2019 mistress. Each of these records is distributed and sold by the following companies: universal music groupalso manage Swift's To publish.
it's a body blow UniversalAnd to see the biggest artists in the book conclude a direct transaction and tick tock… in the same way UMG's mission to secure even greater compensation from tick tock Gain support from multiple and sometimes unlikely allies.
„for Quickthese parties' concerns are not influential enough to hinder her ambitions for her next album. Tortured Poets Department. ”
These allies include US and US independent labels (via A2IM) and Europe (via impala), music publisher ( NMPA) plus artist rights organizations.
UMG's stance tick tock It has also received public support from rivals such as hypnosis, and primary wave.And just the week before last rob stringer – chairman sony music group –According to the interview F.T. Among them he “This does not preclude similar action against Universal.” RE: Possibility to retrieve the catalog from tick tock Until rights holders' payments improve.
for Quickthese parties' concerns are not influential enough to hinder her ambitions for her next album. tortured poet sectionscheduled for release next Friday (April 19th).
when Quick When she fought with Apple in 2015, she said the fight was „not about me“ but about other artists.
reunion with her tick tock is exactly the opposite.
There is no other way to display it. Quick is weakened universal are at an impasse in tick tock And as a result, it would undermine its mission to improve compensation for artists on the platform, for its own benefit.
Swift's „commitment to fellow artists“
now.There is no rule that Taylor Swift One way or another, one should be expected to work endlessly for the financial advancement of other artists.
She's already done far more for this purpose than most major league efforts, but not necessarily in the face of Big Tech.
Recall that in 2018, Swift requested the following as a condition of her new record deal: UMG Ignore an artist's uncollected balance If we share the proceeds from the sale of Universal. spotify stock? (Owned by UMG 3.27% of spotifywe haven't actually sold any inventory yet. Daniel Ekcompany. )
still, Swift's the decision to embrace tick tock Amid the high-stakes influence of platforms, UMG And other rights holders appear to be at odds with her previous statements on similar issues. Remember, back in 2014, she begged her record label not to do that. “Either we underestimate ourselves or we underestimate our art.”.
had Quick she didn't do it tick tock I moved this week, UMG I could have denied it ByteDance's Platform Officials Involved in Three Significant Album Releases by Artists:
- (I) ariana grande's eternal sunshinereleased in March (though it didn't appear on TikTok, it still comfortably ranked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200).
- (ii) Swift's tortured poet section, released in April.and
- (iii) billie eilish's hit me hard and softreleased in May.
UMG's plan was definitely to take away tick tock Participating in these releases rubs salt into ByteDance's wounds by pumping promotional oxygen and exclusives into rival platforms such as: YouTube shorts and Instagram reel.
now Quick crossed the picket line tick tockthis plan was withdrawn.
universal The immediate concern may be how to deal with the inevitable. „So…is that one rule for Taylor and another for the rest of us?“ headache.
is that fair billie eilishFor example, giving up advertising effects such as: tick tock When it’s “worthy” in the name of music – Taylor Swift Did you refuse the same?
meanwhile, Swift's Steel was rented out due to relocation. TikTok quarrel, Published in JanuaryUMG has “chosen to move away from the platform’s strong support… Serves as a free promotional and discovery vehicle Because of their talent. ”
The long-standing claim of “free promotion” by digital platforms does not win most artists or music rights holders many fans.
As A2IM richard james burgess Added recently: „The music industry's folly here lies in sacrificing vital revenue from recorded music for the sake of promotion, exposure, and discovery potential.“
Back in 2018; New global contracts with artistsUMG Boss, Sir Lucian Graingespoke of his „tremendous respect“ for. Taylor Swift„especially for using her hard-earned influence to promote positive change.“
Added Grange: „Given her dedication to her fellow artists, she simply wanted to partner with a company that understood her creative vision and had the resources and expertise to work on her behalf globally. I was looking for a partner with a similar approach to being an artist. With her.”
This week, that alignment broke down.
when tortured poet section When released on April 19th, you can expect it to be played loudly in headquarters around the world. universal music group santa monica and republic records In New York.
But you may find it played just as loudly, and with just as much glee. ByteDance Head Office In Beijing.world music business