Taylor Swift forces Apple Music into payment policy U-turn
She wrote an open letter to the company
Apple Music has changed its music payment policy following a high-profile protest from Taylor Swift.
In an open letter to the technology giant yesterday, Taylor explained that she will be withholding her blockbuster album ‘1989’ from the streaming service over the three-month free trail they were offering users.
She wrote: “I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months.
“I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.”
She finished: “We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.”
In a dramatic U-turn in the face of Taylor’s considerable muscle, Apple have now completely reversed their royalties policy and will pay artists for streams during trial periods.
"We hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple," tweeted executive Eddy Cue last night.
“#AppleMusic will pay artist for streaming, even during customer’s free trial period.”
He added to Associated Press: "When I woke up this morning and I saw Taylor's note that she had written, it really solidified that we needed to make a change.
Clearly delighted with the news, Taylor told her 60million followers: “I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us.”
Her boyfriend Calvin Harris also sent out a proud tweet, writing: "I just played a gig inside a giant owl and my girl just changed the entire music industry what a day."
In her letter titled ‘To Apple, Love Taylor’, the ‘Blank Space’ singer had claimed that her withdrawal of the album was “not about me” but the fledgling artists, songwriters and producers who are starting out in the music industry.
Last November, Taylor pulled all her music off Spotify claiming the service had "shrunk the numbers of paid album sales drastically."