Taylor Swift has successfully acquired the master recordings of her first six albums from Shamrock Capital, marking the end of a years-long dispute over the ownership of her early music catalog. The deal, reportedly worth approximately $360 million, includes all albums released between 2006 and 2017.
According to Hindustan Times, the acquisition encompasses Swift’s self-titled debut album “Taylor Swift” (2006), “Fearless” (2008), “Speak Now” (2010), “Red” (2012), “1989” (2014), and “Reputation” (2017). The purchase marks a significant victory for the artist, who has been actively working to regain control of her musical legacy since 2019.
In an emotional letter posted on her website, Swift announced the successful purchase to her fans, stating, “All of the music I’ve ever made now belongs to me.” Shamrock Capital also expressed their satisfaction with the outcome, releasing a statement saying they were “thrilled” with the result and “happy for Taylor.”
How the $360 million master’s dispute began with Big Machine Label Group
The controversy began in June 2019 when Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings purchased Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) for $330 million, acquiring Swift’s master recordings in the process. Swift claimed she was not properly informed of the sale and was denied a fair opportunity to purchase her masters directly.
The head of her old label sold all her masters from under her in 2019 to her enemy (Scooter Braun) who was trying to sabotage her career. It’s the reason she decided to re-record all her albums in order to reclaim the licensing rights.
— augustine (@housewench_) May 30, 2025
The situation escalated in November 2020 when Braun sold the masters to Shamrock Capital for $405 million. Swift alleged that Braun had imposed conditions on Shamrock Capital, preventing them from communicating with her until after the deal was completed. She also declined an equity partnership with Shamrock because Braun would have continued to profit from her music.
In response to losing control of her original recordings, Swift embarked on an ambitious project to re-record her first six albums. She has already released four “Taylor’s Version” editions of her albums, which have performed better commercially than the original recordings.
Throughout this period, Swift has continued to create new music, including her latest announcement of “The Tortured Poets Department” during the 2024 Grammy Awards. The resolution of the master’s dispute comes during her record-breaking tour, providing Swift with complete ownership of her entire musical catalog for the first time in her career.
