Photo — Taylor Swift: Taylor Swift (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Scooter Braun: Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
The Short Version
A dispute over ownership of an artist's early master recordings. In the sample scenario, a music executive acquires the label holding the artist's catalogue; the artist publicly objects, stating she was not given a fair opportunity to buy the masters herself. The executive's side disputes that characterisation. The disagreement matters because it made recording-contract ownership a mainstream conversation and prompted the artist to re-record her back catalogue. It ends when the catalogue is sold on to an investment firm and the artist proceeds with re-recordings.
Latest Development
Catalogue sold to an investment firm
Sample record: The masters were sold on to a third-party investment company, ending the direct commercial relationship between the two parties.
November 16, 2020 · Verified event
The Beef
Chronological, newest first. Every entry cites a source.
Beef timeline
November 16, 2020
Catalogue sold to an investment firm
Verified eventSample record: The masters were sold on to a third-party investment company, ending the direct commercial relationship between the two parties.
Sample Business Wire ↗November 14, 2019
Dispute over performance clearances
AllegationSample record: Swift alleged she was being blocked from performing her older songs at an awards show. The label publicly disputed the characterisation.
Sample Trade Publication ↗June 30, 2019
Artist objects publicly to catalogue sale
Public statementSample record: Swift published a statement saying she had learned of the sale of her masters and had not been given a fair chance to buy them. Braun's side disputed that account.
Sample Artist Statement ↗
Where It Stands
Resolved. The catalogue changed hands and the artist completed several re-recordings. Neither party has continued the public argument.
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Sources
- 1.Sample Business WireCatalogue sold to an investment firm · Nov 16, 2020
- 2.Sample Trade PublicationDispute over performance clearances · Nov 14, 2019
- 3.Sample Artist StatementArtist objects publicly to catalogue sale · Jun 30, 2019
Allegations are attributed to the party that made them and are not statements of fact.