You go Tay Tay!
There really is no denying the power of Taylor Swift and one should always be vary of getting her bad side, because seriously, you don’t want no bad blood with Tay. The “Shake It Off” singer has took to her tumblr to pen an open letter to Apple Music explaining why her album 1989 won’t be on Apple’s new streaming service when it launches on June 30th.
In the letter title “To Apple, Love Taylor,” Swift brings up the issue with Apple Music’s free three-month trial for users, a period of time in which the service will not pay artistes for what is streamed. She starts off by praising Apple as one of her best partners in selling music before bringing up the issue about Apple Music’s decision to not pay acts during its free three-month trial for users who sign up.
She writes:
I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.
She also wrote that she was speaking to Apple Music on behalf of her fellow musicians who are hesitant to speak around against the tech giant.
These are not the complaints of a spoiled, petulant child. These are the echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much. We simply do not respect this particular call.
The 26-year-old singer ended her note by reminding Apple that it isn’t too late to change its policy on the subject.
But I say to Apple with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.
In regards to Taylor’s open letter, it appears to have reached Apple Music loud and clear as Apple’s Eddy Cue has reached out to her via Twitter. Taylor’s threat to withhold her album from the company may just have prompted a policy change at Apple as Eddy Cue has announced that Apple Music will change its plan and pay royalties to artistes even during its three-month free trail for users.
This isn’s the first time Taylor is speaking up either. In November 2014, she removed all her songs from Spotify, citing the services’ freemium model as devaluing music. Her old music is available for paid subscription-based streaming services such as Tidal and Rdio, but 1989 is only available for sale online.
Kudos to Taylor on making a stand – and clearly, we aren’t the only ones who’ve got mad love for Tay. Check it:
Big up to @taylorswift13 for changing the game for musicians! #AppleMusic
— ALESSO (@Alesso) June 22, 2015
Good job #AppleMusic. I’m glad, thx to @taylorswift13, that artists/writers etc will be paid during the trial period. It’s the right thing.
— Jess and the Bandits (@JesstheBandits) June 22, 2015
We leave you today with “Bad Blood”. Enjoy!
Taylor’s open letter to Apple can be read here.
