Taylor Swift has reclaimed ownership of her entire discography, marking the end of one of the most high-profile music ownership battles in modern history.
In a statement posted to her website on 30 May, the global superstar announced:
“All of the music I’ve ever made now belongs to me.”
The move comes after Swift struck a deal with private equity firm Shamrock Capital to purchase the rights to her first six albums, originally released under Big Machine Records. The sale amount has not been disclosed, but Variety previously reported Shamrock acquired the catalogue for approximately $300 million in 2020.
This latest chapter brings closure to a saga that began in 2019, when Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings bought Big Machine Label Group, and with it, Swift’s master recordings. Swift condemned the deal at the time, calling it her “worst-case scenario” and publicly accusing Braun of “incessant, manipulative bullying.”
Since then, Swift has taken a revolutionary approach to reclaiming her legacy: re-recording her old albums and releasing them as “Taylor’s Versions.” The re-recordings have been both commercially and culturally massive, spawning new hits, unheard vault tracks, and dominant chart positions. Four have been released so far: Fearless, Red, Speak Now, and 1989.
Why It Matters
In the music industry, owning master recordings gives artists control over how their songs are used — from streaming and physical releases to licensing for ads, TV, and film. While Swift has always owned her publishing rights, owning her masters gives her full control over the use and value of her music.
In her letter to fans, Swift expressed deep gratitude, writing:
“To say this is my greatest dream come true is actually being pretty reserved about it.”
“I almost stopped thinking it could ever happen, after 20 years of having the carrot dangled and then yanked away.”
She added that the team at Shamrock Capital treated the deal with care and respect, calling it more than a business move: “It was my memories and my sweat and my handwriting and my decades of dreams.”
A Legacy Redefined
Swift’s bold move to re-record her music and advocate for artist rights has already left a deep impact on the industry. She noted that younger artists have told her they negotiated better contracts (including master ownership) because of her example.
Now, with full ownership of her entire catalogue, including all music, videos, concert films, artwork, and unreleased songs, Taylor Swift has changed the conversation around music rights.
