Taylor Swift Convinces Apple To Pay Artists During Apple Music’s 3-Month Trial

Taylor Swift penned an open letter to Apple to explain why she would not be making her latest album, 1989, available on their new streaming service Apple Music – and managed to get the tech company to bend.

Taylor Swift Vs Apple Music

With the launch of Apple Music, Apple was offering a free three-month trial to subscribers. On the backend of the deal, Apple was planning not to pay artists during that time. In protest, Swift announced her decision to withhold 1989 from the streaming service and explained her reasoning on her Tumblr page.

“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,” Swift wrote. “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,” she continued. “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.”

Swift, who was also complimentary of Apple in her open letter, received a quick response from the company. Apple’s Eddy Cue took to Twitter not long after the singer’s post was published to announce that Apple Music would pay artists during the free trial period.

It was subsequently revealed that Cue and Apple C.E.O. Tim Cook reached out to Swift personally. “I did reach out to Taylor today, and talked to her, and let her know that we heard her concerns, and wanted her to know that we were making changes,” Cue told Re/code. “She was thrilled to hear from us and that we were making the change, and we were grateful for that.”

Swift, after speaking with Cue and Cook, thanked Apple for being willing to make a change for the benefit of the artists behind the music they wish to share.

Swift’s boyfriend Calvin Harris showed his support for her game-changing action on Twitter, writing, “My girl just changed the entire music industry.”

During Apple Music’s three-month trial, Apple will pay artists on a per stream basis, Cue told BuzzFeed News. It’s unknown what the rate per stream will be. After the trial period is over, Apple will pay music owners 71.5% of Apple Music’s subscription revenue in the U.S. Internationally, the percentage averages out around 73%.