Taylor Swift is celebrating a major victory in her long-running battle over her master recordings. The pop superstar has successfully purchased the rights to her first six albums, finally regaining ownership of her original music catalog. Swift broke the news to fans in an emotional letter on her website and an Instagram post, declaring, “I’ve been bursting into tears of joy at random intervals… I really get to say these words: All of the music I’ve ever made… now belongs to me”, along with her music videos and other artworks. This milestone comes after years of Swift re-recording her albums as “Taylor’s Version” to counter the sale of her masters to investors without her consent.
Industry insiders say the deal was struck with Shamrock Holdings, which had acquired Swift’s catalog from music executive Scooter Braun in 2019. A source close to the situation emphasized that Braun was not involved in the new transaction, noting “Taylor now owns all of her music, and this moment finally happened in spite of Scooter Braun, not because of him.” No official price was disclosed, though reports dismissed rumors of a $600 million figure as inaccurate. Swift’s achievement is being hailed as a watershed moment for artist rights. Fellow musicians have praised her perseverance, seeing it as an inspiration for artists seeking control of their work. Fans worldwide are rejoicing at Swift’s triumph, which the singer herself summed up as “a victory anthem” after a tumultuous journey to reclaim her art.
