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With NFL season underway, and Friday the 13th rolling around, Swifties are in a frenzy.
Though pop artist Taylor Swift has kept fans fed with her 11th studio album The Tortured Poets Department (and its multiple variations) this year, Swifties are still anxiously awaiting the last two releases of Swift’s Taylor’s Version series.
Back in 2019, after music industry mogul Scooter Braun purchased the rights to Swift’s master recordings from her first six albums — before later selling them to Shamrock Holdings — Swift, 34, announced that she would re-record the aforementioned albums. Since 2021, Swift has released the re-recordings of 2008’s Fearless, 2012’s Red, 2010’s Speak Now, and 2014’s 1989. At the time of writing, Swift has yet to release re-recordings of her 2006 self-titled debut album, and 2017’s Reputation.
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During the last few stops of the European leg of her Eras Tour, Swift wore darker colored costumes, similar to the fashions she wore for the Reputation Tour — and this had led fans to believe that Reputation (Taylor’s Version) is imminent. Additionally, this has once prompted questions from fans wanting to know the difference between owning one’s master recordings and owning one’s publishing rights.
What does it mean for a musician to own their publishing rights?
When a band, singer, or songwriter owns the rights to their publishing, they own their lyrics and melodies, and can determine how they will be used. For example, Swift may not yet own the masters for Reputation yet, however, because she owns the publishing, she can sell merchandise with specific lyrics on it, like a t-shirt reading “The old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now,” in reference to the album’s lead single, “Look What You Made Me Do.”
Artists and bands can self-publish their music, or partner with a publisher for mass distribution.
In most cases, 50% of songwriting royalties go to the publisher, and 50% of the royalties go to the songwriter.
What does it mean for a musician to own their master recordings?
When a band or singer owns their master recordings, they own the song or album in all of its mixed and mastered glory. This means they can determine how the song or album themselves are used in film, television, advertising, or radio.
Since announcing her re-recording project, many of Swift’s new re-recordings have shown up in movies and television programs, like The Bear, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and Spirit Untamed. Swift, however, can only green-light the use of the Taylor’s Version re-recordings, as those are the only masters she owns.
But with her re-recordings, Swift is allowed to make artistic decisions with her music without interference from labels or other external entities. She can also earn money from sales, streaming, and licensing of her music.
