At this point, being swiftie or at least paying attention to what Taylor Swift does, it is almost like carrying an optional subject in musical law. And, after years of drama, corporate betrayals, regrabations and strategic movements, it seems that Taylor I could finally recover the original masters of its first six albums.
And yes, we talk about those albums that marked more than one generation: Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989 and Reputation.
This is how Taylor Swift could recover his original recordings after years of conflict with Scooter Braun
According to Page Sixsources very close to the matter, revealed that the investment firm Shamrock capital “Actual owner of the original masters— I would be considering selling them againand that this time they want to consider Taylor Swift as a buyer.
The most unexpected of everything? That the very Scooter Braunthat favorite villain of the fandom swiftie, is promoting the sale. Yes, the same as in 2019 bought Big Machine Records (the old Taylor label) for more than 300 million dollars, taking control of its entire original catalog. Later, Braun would resell those masters to Shamrock … but without warning that Taylor already had its re -regbound plan.
The possible MASTER resale is valued between 600 million and 1,000 million dollarsa madness that is explained if we consider The size of the phenomenon that is Taylor.
Why do Taylor’s version end up devaluing the original recordings?
Now let’s move on to another interesting point. The answer is quite simple: each song has two types of rights. On the one hand are the Masterswhich are the original recordings of the song – that we hear as such on albums or platforms. Traditionally, those masters belonged to the labels (just the case of Taylor came to question all that). Today, those masters are the ones at stake and that Shamrock Holdings would be considering selling.
On the other hand are the publication rightswhich refer to the composition as such: the lyrics, the melody, the structure, in summary, the original idea of the song. And those rights are still from Taylor.
So, if someone wants to use a song of their first six albums – let’s say, for a movie, an ad or a series – needs to ask permission to use the master (Shamrock has it) and the publication (which Taylor has). What happened since 2019? That Taylor and his team simply have not authorized the use of these original versions, venting proposals and braking the profitability of that catalog.
That is why the new recordings – the Taylor’s version – have become key pieces. Not only They recover creative controlbut they are also the versions that Taylor does allow to use. And there is the strategy: that’s why their songs sound in series like The Summer I Turned Pretty either The Handmaid’s Tale Use the new versions. That is why the snippet of “What you make me do (Taylor’s version)” rang recently in the new season of The Handmaid’s Tale.
A clear and calculated movement that not only gives more value to its new recordings, but makes the original masters lose commercial attractiveness. It is as if Taylor had made a millionaire “one.”
What would happen if Taylor buys the original masters?
If Taylor manages to buy those original masters, would become the absolute owner of its catalogboth of the new and the old recordings, which would give it total control over licenses, royalties and use of each song from its adolescence to its era Reputation.
In addition, joining both catalogs would not only be a symbolic (and emotional) triumph after years of struggle, but also would further enhance your profitsas the Clayton Durant consultant explained: “She already wins with the Taylor’s version, but having both catalogs would give her total control over her work”.
Peroo, now it is not known with certainty what could be Taylor’s next strategy. Especially taking into account that You just need to launch two regrabations: Your debut disc taylor swift and reputation. Same that according to bad tongues, there is not much lack of going out.
Of course, this legal and musical novel has changed forever how it is understood The power of artists about their music. Before it was the most normal that the masters belonged to the labels. But thanks to the Taylor case, more young musicians are struggling to keep their rights from the beginning of their career.
And now that “What You Made Look Me Do (Taylor’s version)“It is playing, the phrase had never made so much sense.
Core route
