Taylor Swift’s former label to re-release her old singles amid fan backlash and high-profile feuds
Many fans have already declared they will not support the release out of loyalty to Swift herself
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Just two weeks after Taylor Swift condemned her former record label Big Machine for selling her back-catalogue to a powerful industry figure she described as a “manipulative bully”, the label will re-release five of her old singles on a limited-edition vinyl.
In celebration of the 13th anniversary of Swift’s self-titled debut album, Big Machine will release a number of the album’s singles, including “Tim McGraw” and “Teardrops on My Guitar”, on limited-edition sea glass vinyl this August.
But Swift fans have condemned the timing of the announcement, with many declaring that they will not purchase the work in allegiance with their idol. “I won’t give you any of my money,” one fan declared on Facebook, adding: “Guess you have to stoop to this level to try and make money.” Another said, “You are the reason for the teardrops on my guitar. #IStandWithTaylor”.
On 30 June, Swift announced in a Tumblr post that she felt “sad and grossed out” that she was not given a chance to buy the master recordings of her back-catalogue, with Big Machine selling their label and Swift’s catalogue to music mogul Scooter Braun for a reported $300 million.
Swift made it clear in the post that she had bad history with Braun, who manages acts including Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber. “For years I asked, pleaded for a chance to own my work,” she wrote. “I had to make the excruciating choice to leave behind my past. Music I wrote on my bedroom floor and videos I dreamed up and paid for from the money I earned playing in bars, then clubs, then arenas, then stadiums.”
“Some fun facts about today’s news: I learned about Scooter Braun’s purchase of my masters as it was announced to the world,” she continued. “All I could think about was the incessant, manipulative bullying I’ve received at his hands for years.”
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