Taylor Swift has announced that she now owns the rights to her first six albums, ending a long and public battle that began in 2019. The singer confirmed the news on Friday, stating that all her early music, music videos, concert films, album art, and unreleased songs now belong to her. The catalog includes her self-titled debut through 'Reputation,' originally released on Big Machine Records.
The saga began in June 2019 when Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings acquired Big Machine Label Group for around $300 million, including the rights to Swift's first six albums. Swift, who had left Big Machine the previous year for Universal Music Group's Republic Records, said she learned of the deal as it was announced and criticised Braun, accusing him of bullying. She also claimed that Big Machine's Scott Borchetta had offered onerous terms to buy back her catalog, requiring one past album for each new one she released.
Borchetta disputed Swift's claims, providing documents suggesting an offer that would assign her recordings upon signing a new contract. Swift's father, Scott Swift, was a Big Machine shareholder at the time. The catalog later changed hands again when Shamrock Capital purchased it from Ithaca Holdings in 2020.
Swift's ownership deal was a key part of her 2018 contract with Republic Records, which allowed her to own future masters. She also re-recorded four of her early albums as 'Taylor's Versions' to regain some control. The victory marks the end of a six-year struggle that included public disputes with Braun, Justin Bieber, and Kanye West, as well as legal and contractual battles.
