Los Angeles: The heart of the entertainment world saw one of the biggest music ownership stories unfold as Taylor Swift officially regained her master recordings. On May 30, 2025, Swift confirmed that she had successfully repurchased the rights to her first six studio albums in a massive and emotional deal.
These masters were previously sold by Big Machine Records to music executive Scooter Braun in 2019, sparking years of controversy and disappointment for the global pop star.
Swift had no right to purchase her music during the sale. The label had structured a deal requiring her to “earn back” each album by creating new ones. Instead of playing by their rules, Swift took a different route.
Between 2021 and 2023, she re-recorded four original albums — Fearless, Red, Speak Now, and 1989 — branding them as Taylor’s Version. These albums also featured unreleased songs, making them fan favorites and strong commercial successes.
The turning point came when Braun resold her masters to Shamrock Capital in 2020 for $300 million. While early reports speculated Swift paid up to $1 billion, The Guardian reported the buyback was closer to $360 million.
The deal includes not only her master recordings but also concert films, music videos, album art, and previously unreleased tracks.
Swift announced the news in a heartfelt letter to fans on her website, calling the agreement “honest, fair, and respectful.” She thanked the parties involved for recognizing the emotional weight behind the music, saying, “This was a business deal to them, but to me, it was my memories, my sweat, and my handwriting.”
More than just a personal victory, Swift called the buyback a landmark moment for artist rights. She noted that young artists are now negotiating contracts to retain their masters because of her public fight.
Swift’s journey has reshaped how the industry talks about intellectual property, and many have praised her for championing creative ownership.
