Why You Wont Find Taylor Swifts ‘1989’ on Apple Music

21 Jun, 2015

Taylor Swift has penned an open letter explaining why her newest album, 1989, won’t be available on Apple Music when the new streaming service launches on June 30.

The pop star began her note — titled “To Apple, Love Taylor” — by first praising Apple as one of her “best partners in selling music” before taking issue with Apple Music’s decision not to pay acts during its free three-month trial for users who sign up.

“I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months,” Swift writes. “I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.”

Swift also wrote in the letter — which she posted to Tumblr on Sunday, June 21 — that she was speaking to Apple Music on behalf of her fellow musicians who were hesitant to speak out against the tech giant.

“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,” she wrote. “We simply do not respect this particular call.”

The singer ended her note by reminding Apple that it’s not too late to change its policy on the matter. “We don’t ask you for free iPhones,” she wrote. “Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.”

In November 2014, Swift very publicly pulled her entire catalog from Spotify, just days before releasing 1989, citing the services’ freemium model as devaluing music. Her old music is available for paid subscription-based streaming services such as Tidal and Rdio, but 1989 is only available for sale online.

The singer’s back catalog will reportedly be on Apple Music too, which will operate with a paid subscription model.

Billboard

Image Verge Twitter

Mentioned In This Post: