Taylor Swift’s “1989” never goes out of style, even nine years after its initial release. On Friday, Oct. 27, the mega-star released “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” an album consisting of the original 19 songs on the album’s deluxe edition and five additional new tracks. “1989 TV” is the fourth of six re-recordings Swift is releasing to become the rightful owner of her work. Swift’s decision to re-record her first six studio albums not only captures the magic of her earlier work that catapulted her to the top but also sets a powerful example for other artists to stand up for their right to own their work.
As a big fan of Swift’s music, it’s exciting to see her reclaiming ownership of her work. In the harsh music industry, where artists are often treated as products instead of people, Swift’s fearless decision to re-record her work sends a powerful message to executives, artists and fans alike. This decision goes beyond her music; it enables other artists to have the confidence to fight for the right to own their art.
At just 15 years old, Swift signed a record deal with Big Machine Label Group, where she went on to record six albums. As the writer of her songs, Swift owned the lyrics and compositions. However, Big Machine retained control of the master recordings and the power to decide their usage regardless of Swift’s consent. The repercussions of this arrangement became apparent when, in June 2019, Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings company acquired Big Machine Label, including the ownership of all of Swift’s master recordings. The selling of her masters to Braun was devastating for Swift, as Braun managed several artists who publicly feuded with and bullied her. In this scenario, Swift felt both betrayed by Big Machine’s former owner, Scott Borchetta, who failed to consult with her before the deal, and blindsided by the news as she did not find out about the sale until Big Machine announced it to the world.
In response to this injustice, Swift made a bold move, deciding to re-record her first six albums. In a statement Swift posted on social media, she wrote, “Thankfully, I am now signed to a label that believes I should own anything I create. Thankfully, I left my past in Scott’s hands and not my future. And hopefully, young artists or kids with musical dreams will read this and learn about how to better protect themselves in a negotiation. You deserve to own the art you make.” Her primary objective was clear: she wanted to regain control of her masters. This battle over master recordings has ignited discussion in the music industry. It has also highlighted the imbalance of power that exists between artists and their labels. In Swift’s case, she is not just standing up for the work that is rightfully hers, but also advocating for the artistic integrity and importance of maintaining creative control for all artists.
In an industry where women have historically been taken advantage of by men, Swift is fighting back. Re-recording her old music at a time when she was at the height of her success, risking it all, highlights Swift’s willingness to advocate for herself and other artists who look up to her. Despite Swift’s large and loyal fanbase, there was no guarantee they would support her decision. This risk is reminiscent of 2014 when Swift made the trailblazing transition from country to pop music. At the time, there was no guarantee that Swift’s fan base, which she built by dominating country music, would stand by her as she rebranded herself from the sweet, southern girl-next-door to a world-renowned pop sensation. Big Machine and Borchetta advised against the transition, raising concerns of upsetting her fans. Still, Swift trusted her instinct and released “1989,” which became one of her most successful projects, becoming certified 9x platinum by RIAA. While each re-recording is significant as Swift acquires ownership of her work, “1989 TV” is special. “1989 TV” has had immense success as the most streamed album in a single day on Spotify in 2023 so far. This success represents the loyalty and willingness of Swift’s fan base to support her and her decisions, whether it’s her transition from country to pop, or the re-release of her debut pop album nine years later.
Swift is not just inspiring fans but other artists, too. Swift inspired the pop and R&B 2000s band 98 Degrees to re-record their music. In September, 98 Degrees reunited for a 25th Anniversary Tour to celebrate the group’s tenure in pop music. Now that the tour is over, the group announced they are going to re-record five of their classic hits, an initiative they’ve been wanting to take for a while but haven’t been able to due to disputes with their label. However, “Taylor Swift sort of brought it to the forefront. The fans have embraced that. And so we’re like, ‘Ok, now’s the time to do it,’” singer Jeff Timmons said. Drew Lachey, another band member, applauded Swift for giving other artists the confidence to re-record their masters, explaining that her decision created an agreement between artists and fans to support other artists re-recording their masters as well.
As Swift prepares to re-record her last two albums, “Taylor Swift” and “Reputation,” it is evident that her unwavering dedication to reclaiming her work has set a new music industry standard for artists worldwide. By fighting for the ownership of her work, Swift is not just asserting her rights but inspiring a movement advocating for artist integrity and just representation in their labels and the music industry as a whole. As an avid supporter of Swift and her journey, it’s encouraging to witness Swift’s resilience and the unwavering support of her fans.
Hailey Baker, FCRH ’27, is a political science major from Gaithersburg, Md.
