✨ Why is Taylor so powerful? ✨
Let us explain the (re)release of her album Speak Now
Taylor is releasing today a new version of her 2010 album 'Speak Now', originally her 3rd album, which she wrote on her own between the ages of 18 and 20. Currently on a sold-out world tour, with tickets selling out in the hands of fans, the American singer unveiled on stage the release of the album, which features well-known tracks such as Back to December, Dear John and Enchanted.
It fills me with such pride and joy to announce that my version of Speak Now will be out July 7 (just in time for July 9th, iykyk 😆) I first made Speak Now, completely self-written, between the ages of 18 and 20. The songs that came from this time in my life were marked by their… pic.twitter.com/oa0Vs5kszr— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) May 6, 2023
Already released in 2010, the album is being re-released today,
but why?
A look back at the history of her first label, Big Machine Records
In 2005, when she was still at the start of her career and only 15 years old, Taylor signed a 13-year recording contract with Big Machine Records, which would see her produce 6 albums in total.
A few years later, in 2018, by which time she was a world-famous artist selling millions of albums, Taylor wanted to leave Big Machine Records to sign with Universal Music's Republic Records. She told the label that she wanted to buy back the Masters (recordings) of her albums.
Why would she do this? Although she owns the rights to the music and lyrics, she does not own the recordings. This means that for any sale, the label receives a certain percentage, but it also owns the rights to control how the version of the songs is used, for example by authorising the music to appear in adverts or films. But Big Machine Records refused Taylor's offer to sell, which meant the singer had to leave her albums with them.
The Scooter tornado
But it didn't end there, because one year later, in 2019, a certain Scooter Braun bought the label, and consequently Taylor's masters. The singer explained her immense disappointment: "Essentially, my musical legacy is about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it.”
Scooter is a music producer and agent that Taylor knows well, whom she has accused of "relentless and manipulative bullying" for years. If you'd like to find out more, you can read all about the scandals surrounding Kanye West, Justin Bieber and her online harassment.
Taylor takes her revenge, and inspires the music world
Despite the betrayal and sense of injustice following the takeover, Taylor did not give up and announced a few months later that, from 2020, she would be legally able to re-record all the albums that still belonged to Big Machine Records.
“Yeah that’s true and it’s something I’m very excited about. My contract says starting from November 2020 I can start re-recording albums 1-5. I think artists deserve to own their own work. It’s next year, I’m gonna be busy.” — Taylor on re-recording her music #TaylorSwiftOnGMA pic.twitter.com/W9e1kRN8Hb— Taylor Swift News (@TSwiftNZ) August 22, 2019
Knowing that she owns the rights to the lyrics and arrangements, all she has to do is re-record the tracks, altering their album cover and adding the famous "(Taylor's Version)" alongside them. This means that she will be in total control of how these albums are used. The singer has since released subsequent versions of three old albums:
Not only does it take an enormous amount of courage to embark on such a project and face up to your tyrant, but the singer, who is known to have a more than devoted fan base, can count on the Swifties to boycott the old versions of the albums.
This story shows that despite the challenges and injustices of the music world, which are still very tenacious today, it is always possible to turn things around and take back power!
THE COMMUNITY GAME
We've hidden some pearls from a friendship necklace in the Community, so it's up to you to find them and make up one of the tracks from her new album to try and win our Swiftie badge!
Note: The game has ended now but if you still want the badge, please let me know.
Why the friendship bracelet? The Swifties started the tradition of exchanging handmade bracelets during Taylor's concerts, inspired by the lyrics of You're on your own, Kid: “Everything you lose is a step you take / So make the friendship bracelets / Take the moment and taste it.”
