Up until this past weekend Apple Music was NOT going to pay artists for royalties while users were under the three-month free trial of Apple’s new music streaming service. The logic here being that Apple wasn’t receiving any money from subscribers during the free trial, so they didn’t think they needed to pay the musicians. I get their logic, but the reality of the situation is that Apple Music would essentially be giving away artist’s music FOR FREE, and the artists wouldn’t be seeing any return from their work. This sucks for indie artists trying to make a splash in the music biz, getting their names out there via Apple Music. They simply cannot afford the cost of studio time and recording without seeing returns on their music. Taylor Swift is ungodly wealthy (est. over $200 million), she can pretty much afford to do whatever she wants for the rest of her life and money wouldn’t be an object. However, Queen T looks out for her fellow artists and yesterday she penned a letter To Apple (on Tumblr) refusing to let them stream her 1989 album until they agreed to pay artist, and since Taylor gets what Taylor wants Apple immediately buckled, announcing a complete reversal of their policy of not paying artists. Taylor gets shit done.
To Apple, Love Taylor
http://t.co/GN9jiRkqlj
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 21, 2015
“”
After blasting that scathing letter out on Tumblr the executives of Apple had a powwow and realized they couldn’t go against Tay. Their VP of Software Development, Eddy Cue, who reports directly to CEO Tim Cook sent out the following tweets as Taylor’s letter to Apple began to go viral:
Apple will always make sure that artist are paid #iTunes #AppleMusic
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015
“”
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
“”
Message received: when Taylor speaks the CEO’s of Silicon Valley listen.
All it took was a letter on Tumblr written by the world’s most powerful musician and one of the world’s most powerful companies had to bend over and do whatever she says. All of this took place in a pretty spectacular turn around time, with Taylor’s call for change on Tumblr going up yesterday and Apple responding same-day that they will now pay artists during the free trial period.
And with this tweet the Queen’s work was done:
I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us.
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 22, 2015
“”