Taylor Swift has long held reservations over the issue of music streaming online. With the launch of Apple Music, these doubts appear to have surfaced once more.
The service will include a three month clause, whereby users won't pay for the service for three months – but, equally, artists will not receive royalties for that time period.
A number of musicians have raised concerns over this, with Taylor Swift now lending her voice to the debate. Witholding her album '1989' from the service, the singer has published a statement on Tumblr titled 'To Apple, Love Taylor'.
The singer wrote: “I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. 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.”
“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.”
Elsewhere, Taylor Swift wrote: “Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing. I say this with love, reverence, and admiration for everything else Apple has done. I hope that soon I can join them in the progression towards a streaming model that seems fair to those who create this music. I think this could be the platform that gets it right.”
Ending, Taylor Swift said: “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.”
Read the full note HERE.
