Taylor Swift has hit a monumental milestone in her career: she has officially bought back her masters, reclaiming the rights to her music. The Grammy-winning artist celebrated this major victory in a joyful moment with her longtime friend and producer, Jack Antonoff, sharing a special clip of the celebration on social media. This exciting news comes after a long, public battle over her music rights, and Swift is now poised to take full control of her impressive catalog.
In a lighthearted video shared by Antonoff on X, the pair can be seen having fun in a kitchen, singing to Swift’s hit track “Gateway Car” from her 2017 album Reputation. Antonoff, 41, captioned the post with a playful remark, saying, “Rape hearing crime free forever!” Swift’s cat Meredith also made an adorable cameo in the clip, further adding to the celebratory vibe. Fans were quick to express their excitement, with some even speculating that the video signaled a future re-recording of Swift’s previous albums.
The journey to reclaiming her music began after a highly publicized conflict with her former music manager, Scooter Braun. In 2019, Braun’s company acquired Big Machine Records, which held the rights to Swift’s first six albums. Swift, who has long been outspoken about her desire to own her music, was left fighting for control over the work she had poured her heart into.
A Milestone in Taylor Swift’s Career
Swift’s announcement on her website reflected her deep emotional connection to this moment. In her heartfelt letter, she described the journey of purchasing her masters as a long-awaited achievement. “Whatever music I have made, it is now for me,” she wrote, marking a new chapter in her music career where she owns the rights to her creations.
The financial aspect of this deal also garnered attention. Sources reported that Swift allegedly paid a significant sum to buy back her masters, with Shemrock Capital—the firm that bought her catalog in 2020—selling it to Swift for approximately $360 million. This deal has been widely speculated to be the culmination of years of negotiation and effort.
The Road to Re-recording: What’s Next for Swift?
Swift’s decision to re-record her earlier albums began in 2021, when she released Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version), albums that were originally released with Big Machine Records. Fans were thrilled to see these re-releases, and Swift followed up with Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and 1989 (Taylor’s Version). As a result, there has been much anticipation surrounding the release of Reputation (Taylor’s Version), though Swift admitted in her recent post that she has not yet re-recorded much of it.
Despite not having recorded a significant portion of Reputation just yet, Swift’s fans are hopeful that she will eventually release the re-recorded version of this iconic album, especially since it marks a pivotal point in her career. Swift also revealed that she is particularly proud of her first album, Taylor Swift, and shared her deep appreciation for how far she has come since then.
The Future of Taylor Swift’s Music
With the re-recording of her albums and her newfound ownership of her masters, Taylor Swift is in full control of her musical legacy. This move allows her to explore new opportunities, including licensing her music for film and television, or even partnering with brands and platforms that align with her artistic vision. Swift’s fans can expect her to continue producing high-quality music while protecting the integrity of her work.
Are you excited about Taylor Swift owning her music? Stay tuned for more updates and explore her re-recorded albums by checking out our latest posts!
