Taylor Swift has come forward to criticize Apple Music’s planned three-month trial.
And apparently won.
Which means it might be slightly easier for you to listen to her next 987,752 songs about a breakup.
In a released statement, Swift offered the following comment with regard to the free streaming element:
This is not about me. Thankfully I am on my fifth album and can support myself, my band, crew, and entire management team by playing live shows. This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success. This is about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt. This is about the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field…but will not get paid for a quarter of a year’s worth of plays on his or her songs.
At the end of the statement, she concluded with the following:
But I say to Apple with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.
In an unexpected turn of events, Apple executive Eddy Cue announced on Twitter Sunday night that the company had changed its mind, and artists would be paid during the trial period.
It was a fairly stunning reversal for Apple, and one that came without any PR campaigns or orchestrated news releases — just a series of tweets from a senior executive, effectively apologizing for the company’s prior stance with the following quote offered:
It wasn’t immediately clear how Apple would ensure that artists were paid during the three-month trial period for its new service, because the company deals — as every other music service does — with record labels and publishers rather than directly with artists. But regardless of the details, many music watchers undoubtedly saw Cue’s announcement as a win for artists. They had believed Apple had gone too far in trying to promote its service without fairly compensating those whose music provides the underpinnings for the product.
Cue stated that he had spoken with Swift about her complaints, and that her letter had helped convince the company that its approach was wrong. He said the decision to change was made after he spoke with Apple CEO Tim Cook about it.
Prior to Swift’s comments, critics had cited Apple’s US$175 billion cash hoard as more than sufficient to pay royalties during Apple Music’s three month free subscription period.
That being said, enjoy Apple Music as it launches in nine days.
Via taylorswift.tumblr.com and Fortune