Taylor Swift Reclaims Ownership of Her Masters After Two Decades
- The New York Editorial Desk - Arif
- Aug 14, 2025
- 2 min read
Tone & Political Bias: Weakly Center
Why: The report focuses on a celebrity business milestone without political framing, presenting events factually with minimal subjective language.
Swift Announces Emotional Milestone
Taylor Swift has regained ownership of her master recordings after more than 20 years of attempts. Speaking on New Heights, the podcast hosted by her partner Travis Kelce and his brother Jason, Swift described the process as both difficult and deeply personal. The acquisition was finalized in May, following years of negotiations, re-recordings, and public disputes over her music rights.
The Importance of Master Ownership
Swift explained that owning her master recordings grants her full control over distribution, licensing, and the long-term preservation of her work.
“I got my music back this summer,” Swift said. “Owning your master recordings means that you have complete control and power over distribution, licensing, and essentially the way your legacy is shaped.”
She said this goal had been with her since she signed her first record deal at age 15.
From Loss to Reclamation
In 2019, Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings acquired Big Machine Records, giving him control of Swift’s first six albums. Swift said she was denied the chance to purchase her masters outright and instead offered a deal to “earn” them back one album at a time.
She responded by re-recording her early albums under “Taylor’s Version,” releasing updated editions of Fearless, Red, Speak Now, and 1989. In 2020, Braun sold the masters to Shamrock Capital for over $300 million. Swift said repeated attempts to negotiate a purchase failed until earlier this year.
The Final Deal
Swift revealed that instead of sending lawyers, she sent her mother and brother to meet with Shamrock Capital in Los Angeles. They shared her personal history with the catalogue and explained its importance beyond financial value.
Her mother eventually delivered the news that the deal was approved. Swift recalled collapsing to the floor in tears when she heard, describing the moment as life-changing. “These are my handwritten diary entries from my whole life,” she said. “My photography, my music videos, my artwork — everything I’ve ever done is in this catalogue.”
Why It Matters to Swift
Swift emphasized that her motivation was not financial returns but personal ownership of her life’s work. She said the deal ended decades of frustration and replaced painful memories with gratitude. In a statement posted online in May, Swift said she had “almost stopped thinking it could ever happen” after years of setbacks. “All of the music I ever made now belongs to me,” she wrote.
A New Album on the Horizon
Alongside the announcement, Swift discussed her upcoming 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. The record will include 12 tracks inspired by her experiences during the Eras Tour and feature a collaboration with pop artist Sabrina Carpenter.
She described the album as “exuberant and electric,” reflecting a joyful and dramatic period in her life. Swift confirmed there will be no bonus tracks or additional releases beyond the 12 songs.
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