Taylor Swift Triumphs: Reclaims Ownership of Her Music Masters After Years-Long Battle
- Melissa Santañez
- Jun 2
- 2 min read
Taylor Swift's journey to reclaim ownership of her music has been a landmark case in the music industry, highlighting issues of artists' rights and control over their creative work.
In 2019, Swift's former label, Big Machine Records, was acquired by Scooter Braun's company, Ithaca Holdings, for $330 million. This deal included the master recordings of Swift's first six albums, which she had long sought to own. Swift expressed her dismay, stating she was not given a fair opportunity to purchase her masters and labeling Braun as a "manipulative bully" .
In response, Swift embarked on a mission to re-record her early albums, releasing them as "Taylor's Version." These re-recordings not only allowed her to regain artistic control but also diminished the value of the original masters. Fans and radio stations supported her endeavor, with many opting to play the new versions over the originals .
In 2020, Braun sold the masters to Shamrock Holdings for $405 million, but Swift declined to partner with Shamrock due to Braun's continued financial involvement. She continued her re-recording project, which received critical acclaim and commercial success .
In May 2025, Swift announced she had successfully purchased her master recordings from Shamrock for approximately $360 million, finally achieving full ownership of her early work . This acquisition included not only the master recordings but also associated materials like music videos and album artwork.
Swift's actions have sparked widespread discussions about intellectual property rights in the music industry. Her case has been studied in academic settings, including courses at Harvard Law School and the University of Virginia, examining the implications of her battle for ownership on copyright law and artist rights . source: Harvard Law School
Celebrating this milestone, Swift was seen dining with close friend Selena Gomez in New York City, marking the end of a significant chapter in her career .
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