Swift gets Apple to back down on contract
UPDATE: Apple's SVPof Internet Software and ServicesEddy Cue, has taken to Twitter to announce the tech giant will, in fact pay artists during the free, three-month trial period of Apple Music.
However Cue said 'artists' and not rights holders. It remains to be seen whetherlabels, songwriters andpublishers will be paid during the period.
Taylor Swift has spoken out about why she didn’t offer Apple Music the rights to her latest LP.
In a blog post published to her Tumblr, the IFPI Global Recording Artist of 2014 has taken a strong stance about Apple’s refusal to pay independent labels, songwriters, publishers and artists during the free, three-month trial of its streaming service.
“This is not about me […] This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success.”
On Friday it was revealed that Apple Music had only secured the rights to Swift’s back catalogue and not her global #1 album 1989. The decision wasn’t met with surprise from the industry – Swift pulled her entire catalogue from Spotify in November, 1989 wasn’t licensed to any streaming services, and the decision follows comments made by Swift which show her reservations about the freemium format. However, Swift has informed her fans the decision is solely to express her ‘shock’ at Apple’s latest motive.
“I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.
“[…] 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.”
Scroll down to read Swift’s post in full.
Swift’s strong stance against Apple Music’s stratagem follows a global backlash from independent labels. US indie trade group A2IM, UK body Beggars Group, the German Association of Independent Music Companies (VUT), theorganisation representing producers and distributors of independent phonograms in France (UPFI),the global body representing indie labels Merlin, and Australia’s own AIR have spoken out about the harm a 90-day profit drought will bring to the global economy.
In a letter sent to its members, the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) said: “This is a major problem for any label that relies on new releases rather than deep catalogue, as the potential for this freetrial to cannabalize not only download sales, which remain a very important revenue stream, but also streaming incomefrom other services, is enormous.
“As a whole the independent sector is a powerful voice in the music industry but its individual parts, the smaller labelsparticularly, cannot withstand such a potentially catastrophic drop in revenue.”
Read Taylor Swift’s letter to Apple below:
To Apple, Love Taylor
I write this to explain why I’ll be holding back my album, 1989, from the new streaming service, Apple Music. I feel this deserves an explanation because Apple has been and will continue to be one of my best partners in selling music and creating ways for me to connect with my fans. I respect the company and the truly ingenious minds that have created a legacy based on innovation and pushing the right boundaries.
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.
This is not about me. Thankfully I am on my fifth album and can support myself, my band, crew, and entire management team by playing live shows. This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success. This is about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt. This is about the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field…but will not get paid for a quarter of a year’s worth of plays on his or her songs.
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.
I realize that Apple is working towards a goal of paid streaming. I think that is beautiful progress. We know how astronomically successful Apple has been and we know that this incredible company has the money to pay artists, writers and producers for the 3 month trial period… even if it is free for the fans trying it out.
Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing. I say this with love, reverence, and admiration for everything else Apple has done. I hope that soon I can join them in the progression towards a streaming model that seems fair to those who create this music. I think this could be the platform that gets it right.
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.
Taylor