Swift vs. Big Machine: A Melodic Tussle
It’s a bit of a musical drama: Taylor Swift, the pop powerhouse, and her former record label, Big Machine, have started a verbal sparring match over who gets to jam to her classic hits on stage. Fans are cheering for Taylor, while many other big-name singers stayed quiet.
What sparked the fight?
During the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Nov. 24, Taylor called her performance “a question mark.” She couldn’t play a mash‑up of her old chart‑toppers because Big Machine refused to grant the label the right. In return, the label claimed Taylor was “spreading false information” and that they have no right to stop her from performing her old songs.
The contractual wrinkle
Under the deal that tied her to Big Machine when she was just 15, Taylor can’t re‑record any music from that era until November 2020. That’s why the label feels the pressure.
Who’s backing Taylor?
- Sara Bareilles hurled a tweet calling Big Machine’s move an “outrageous abuse of power” and “completely unforgivable.”
- Selena Gomez ripped up the internet, telling her followers she was “sick and extremely angry.”
- Camila Cabello, Halsey, and Tinashe also sent their support in a string of tweets.
Meanwhile, the likes of Katy Perry, Adele, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Cardi B, and Beyoncé kept their ears shut.
How did the drama unfold?
After leaving Big Machine last November to sign with Universal Music Group (a part of the French conglomerate Vivendi), Taylor’s war with the label has spilled onto social media. In June, she voiced her displeasure with Scooter Braun’s purchase of the independent label and even accused him of bullying her.
Most recently, she slammed Big Machine executives for what she calls “tyrannical control.” She also said they denied permission for her songs to appear in an upcoming Netflix documentary about her life.
Financial back and forth
- Big Machine claimed they’re owed “millions of dollars and multiple assets.”
- Taylor’s publicist, Tree Paine, countered that the label owes Taylor $7.9 million (S$10.7 million) in unpaid royalties.
What did Taylor say?
“Right now, my performance at the AMAs, the Netflix documentary, and any other recorded events I’m planning to play until November 2020 are a question mark,” she wrote. “The message being sent to me is very clear: basically be a good little girl and shut up, or you’ll be punished.”
It’s clear that this isn’t a quiet backstage squabble—Taylor’s voice is louder than ever, and the musical world is keeping a keen eye on how this scores out.
