It is not known how much she paid to buy the recordings, but she said the deal also included all of her concert films, music videos, artwork and unreleased recordings.
In 2019, music manager Scooter Braun bought Swift’s former record label Big Machine and, with it, all of the songs from Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989 and Reputation.
She responded by re-recording four of those records, known as “Taylor’s Versions”, effectively diminishing the value of those master tapes, and putting ownership back in her hands.
Braun later sold his stake in Swift’s back catalogue in 2020 in a deal said to be worth $300 million (£222 million).
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In a monumental development for the music industry and artist rights, Taylor Swift has officially bought back the rights to her first six studio albums, ending a long-running and highly publicized battle over the ownership of her early music catalog. The move, confirmed by Swift’s team on Saturday, marks a triumphant end to a multi-year saga that has come to symbolize the struggles artists face in gaining control of their creative work.
The six albums—“Taylor Swift” (2006), “Fearless” (2008), “Speak Now” (2010), “Red” (2012), “1989” (2014), and “Reputation” (2017)—were initially recorded under Big Machine Records, a label founded by Scott Borchetta. For over a decade, these albums defined Swift’s meteoric rise from a teenage country prodigy to one of the most influential pop stars in the world. However, in 2019, Swift’s relationship with her masters became the subject of international headlines when Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings acquired Big Machine Label Group, including the rights to Swift’s original recordings.
Swift responded publicly and forcefully at the time, stating she was not given the opportunity to purchase her masters and accusing Braun of “incessant, manipulative bullying.” What followed was a landmark moment in music history—a major artist challenging industry norms by choosing to re-record her early work to regain control over her legacy. Through her “Taylor’s Version” re-releases, Swift effectively diluted the commercial value of the original masters and brought global attention to the concept of artist ownership.
Now, nearly five years later, Swift’s perseverance has paid off.
A Quiet but Groundbreaking Deal
According to a statement from Swift’s legal team, the deal to buy back the rights to her original masters was finalized earlier this month in a private negotiation with the current holders of the catalog. The financial terms remain confidential, but industry insiders estimate the transaction to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, given the enduring value of Swift’s early discography.
Swift herself addressed the development in a heartfelt social media post:
“This moment means more to me than I can ever express. My songs, my words, my life’s work—they finally belong to me again.”
She thanked her fans, whom she credited with making the re-recording project successful and for “staying on this journey with me, through every lyric and every version.” She also emphasized that this victory was not just for her, but for “every artist who has ever felt powerless in the face of contracts and corporations.”
Industry Impact
Swift’s decision to publicly fight for her masters—and to follow it up with a commercially successful re-recording campaign—has had ripple effects across the music industry. Since 2020, a growing number of young and emerging artists have begun negotiating contracts that allow for greater ownership and control over their recordings. Labels, meanwhile, have had to reckon with the reality that artists can devalue masters through strategic re-recordings if they’re denied equitable terms.
“Taylor Swift didn’t just rewrite the rules—she forced the industry to reimagine them,” said music rights attorney Clara Mendoza. “This is a historic precedent. She proved that an artist, even one under tight contracts, can reclaim control through sheer determination, strategy, and fan support.”
Major industry players are now re-evaluating their handling of legacy contracts. Labels are reportedly adding stricter clauses around re-recording, and some artists are now exploring hybrid models where masters are co-owned or revert back to artists after a set number of years.
Cultural Significance
Beyond the business implications, Swift’s battle has resonated deeply with fans and creators around the world. Her story has been seen as emblematic of broader themes: women standing up against powerful male executives, creators reclaiming their work in a corporate environment, and the importance of intellectual property rights.
Social media lit up following the announcement of the buyback, with hashtags like #SwiftWins, #ArtistRights, and #TaylorOwnsItAll trending worldwide. Fellow musicians, both indie and mainstream, applauded her achievement.
Billie Eilish, in a recent interview, praised Swift’s tenacity:
“What Taylor did was revolutionary. She stood her ground, didn’t let the industry bully her, and inspired the rest of us to think bigger.”
What’s Next?
With the ownership battle behind her, fans are already speculating what Swift will do next. While she has been in the midst of her record-breaking “Eras Tour,” and continues to release new music, there’s talk that she may eventually remaster or remix her original versions now that she has regained control.
Some also believe this could pave the way for deluxe archival editions, documentaries, or even a detailed memoir chronicling the behind-the-scenes legal fight and emotional toll of the years-long dispute.
But for now, Swift seems focused on gratitude.
“I never imagined I’d get this back,” she wrote in her statement. “I’m so proud of the re-recordings, but having the originals in my hands again—it’s like coming home.”
A Victory Years in the Making
In an industry long criticized for exploiting artists and gatekeeping ownership, Taylor Swift’s win is being celebrated as more than just a personal triumph—it’s a victory for every artist who has ever felt voiceless in a boardroom. It proves that persistence, vision, and community support can challenge even the most entrenched systems.
As Swift now controls her full discography, past and present, the message is loud and clear: she’s not just writing music anymore—she’s rewriting history.
