Music
22 Jun 15

Taylor Swift saves industry from Apple Music

Ok, so perhaps that’s a little strong. But an open-letter posted by the Dublin-bound pop princess is responsible for a remarkable U-turn from the tech giant, which has now committed to paying artists during the three-month customer trial period

Taylor Swift’s decision to pull her entire back catalogue from Spotify last year was one of the more dramatic stances against streaming taken by a major star, and this weekend she posted an open letter to explain why her massive LP 1989 would not be available on the new Apple Music platform which launches at the end of the month.
A response was not long in coming.
In To Apple, Love Taylor, she took issue with the fact that writers, producers, and artists would not be paid during the three month trial period extended to customers, describing it as “shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.
“These are not the complaints of a spoiled, petulant child,” she continued. “These are the echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much. We simply do not respect this particular call.”
Finishing with a sting – “We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation” – and reminding the company that it wasn’t too late to change their policy, she could scarcely have anticipated that an Apple climbdown would take just a matter of hours.
Senior Executive Eddy Cue took to Twitter to confirm the reversal.

We hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple

— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015

#AppleMusic will pay artist for streaming, even during customer’s free trial period

— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015

And T-Swift herself was rather pleased with the developments.

I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us.

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 22, 2015

Of course, it remains to be seen whether 1989 will be available on Apple Music when it launches on June 30; at least Dublin fans know they can head to the North Wall for a live rendition that night.