Maybe band-aids really do fix bullet holes?
Pop superstar and tech giant make amends, peace reigns within the music biz.
The Taylor vs Apple saga officially has a happy ending.
Just days after Taylor wrote a now famous open letter to Apple Music saying she would withhold her album 1989 from the streaming service so long as they refused to pay artists for the first three months of buyers using the platform, Apple agreed she was right, and Taylor has now agreed to work alongside them.
After the events of this week, I've decided to put 1989 on Apple Music…and happily so.
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 25, 2015
She (attempted to) put the conspiracy theories to rest, as well:
In case you're wondering if this is some exclusive deal like you've seen Apple do with other artists, it's not.
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 25, 2015
This is simply the first time it's felt right in my gut to stream my album. Thank you, Apple, for your change of heart.
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 25, 2015
Critics might still find it suspect that the music titans were able to so quickly and amicably come to a solution, and for all we know it may still very well be a neatly executed publicity stunt, but it’s refreshing either way to see this not dragged out for months on end, with new or independent artists potentially losing revenue because of it.
The music industry was rocked by Taylor’s letter and the rest of the world was stunned when the extent of her power was cemented by Apple’s split second decision to heed her words:
I just played a gig inside a giant owl and my girl just changed the entire music industry what a day
— Calvin Harris (@CalvinHarris) June 22, 2015
Now, if more artists insisted on being paid for their work, new bands might have a chance.. http://t.co/up5cpyqG2v
— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) June 22, 2015
@taylorswift13 From a guy who just got paid $1.61 for over 2 million plays on 1 song on just 1 Internet streaming site, thank you Taylor!
— David Tolliver (@DavidTolliver) June 21, 2015
In other Swift news, she and bae Calvin Harris are now officially entertainment’s highest paid couple, according to Forbes latest Celebrity 100 list, knocking Beyonce and Jay Z off the top spot. Together, the new couple earn a ridiculous $146 million between them.