Taylor Swift "reclaims" the musical treasure that was once stolen, shocking the music industry?

On May 30, Taylor Swift moved fans when she shared a handwritten letter on her personal website, calling the acquisition of the copyrights to her first six albums "the greatest dream come true."

The deal she struck with Shamrock Capital, the private equity firm that bought the albums from Scooter Braun in 2020, was based on "honesty, fairness, and mutual respect." According to the singer, the huge success of The Eras Tour gave her the financial means to regain the copyright.

Swift now owns all the assets associated with her six albums: music videos, documentaries, album covers, behind-the-scenes photos, and even unreleased songs. "I am forever grateful to the team at Shamrock Capital for being the first to help me make this happen," she wrote. Swift said that while it may be a financial deal for investors, for her, it is a journey that involves years of memories, hard work, and handwritten music.

Accompanying the letter were photos of Swift and six original album covers. She asserted: "Every song I've ever written, now belongs to me."

In the letter, the artist also mentioned plans to re-record the remaining two albums, Taylor Swift (2006) and Reputation (2017). Previously, she released four remastered albums, Fearless (2008), Speak Now (2010), Red (2012) and 1989 (2014), all labeled Taylor's Version to distinguish them from the original. Each album also included previously unreleased songs, called From the Vault Tracks.

A new version of the song Look What You Made Me Do from Reputation recently made a surprise appearance on the TV series The Handmaid's Tale, leading many fans to believe that a full re-recording was on the way. However, Swift said that the project was not yet complete, as the album was tied to a tumultuous period in her career, which led to multiple delays. However, she confirmed that she had completed the re-recording of her debut album Taylor Swift, writing: "When both are re-released, they are no longer sad or regretful, but rather a celebration of all that has been experienced."

Swift's success in reclaiming her copyright has also sparked a broader debate about artist ownership in the music industry. She expressed her excitement that her personal story has inspired many young artists to fight for their rights to their work. "Every time a new artist tells me that they got their masters back because of this fight, I realize what it all means," she wrote.

The exact amount of the deal was not disclosed. Some sources speculated that Taylor paid between $600 million and $1 billion, but the singer denied it, insisting that the price was "extremely fair", nearly $300 million, equivalent to what Shamrock Capital paid Scooter Braun.

Sources close to the matter said Braun was not involved in the deal. Swift and her team negotiated the deal themselves, with full credit going to her and Shamrock Capital. Braun also congratulated the singer on the same day, telling Variety: "I'm so happy for her."

The copyright battle began in 2019 when Scooter Braun bought Big Machine Records, which managed Taylor Swift from 2006 to 2018, for $300 million, giving her rights to her first six albums. Due to a personal dispute, Swift was not offered the rights back. She called it the "worst case scenario" and vowed to re-record all of her albums to regain control. "I want to own my music and I believe every artist deserves that opportunity," she said during her 2023 Eras Tour.

In June 2024, the documentary Taylor Swift vs Scooter Braun: Bad Blood debuted on Max, chronicling the two's complicated relationship in its entirety. It featured legal experts, journalists, and people close to both sides.

Taylor Swift, 36, is known as America's "country music princess". Debuting in 2006, she has become famous for her songwriting talent and emotional voice. In nearly two decades of working, Swift has won 14 Grammys, 30 VMAs, and organized many large tours. The Eras Tour grossed more than 2 billion USD, making her a billionaire with an estimated fortune of 1.6 billion USD (according to Forbes).

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