Kaylah Walton
Taylor Swift embarked on a quest to regain control of her music after a shocking disconnect that rattled the music world. In 2019, the pop icon lost ownership of her first six albums when music executive Scooter Braun acquired her master recordings for $300 million through her former label, Big Machine Records. Swift, who joined Big Machine in 2005 at the young age of 15, had built an impressive discography—Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, and Reputation—but held no rights to the masters.
Upon Braun’s purchase, Swift was not given the opportunity to acquire them herself, which she deemed a betrayal. She accused him of harassment and referred to it as “toxic male privilege,” asserting that he and Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta robbed her of her life’s work, igniting a public dispute that stirred conversations regarding artists’ rights.
Braun later sold the recordings to Shamrock Capital in 2020 for a considerable profit, but in a surprising development, Shamrock is now looking to give Swift the opportunity to repurchase them. Sources informed Page Six that Braun is himself advocating for this arrangement, a revelation many did not anticipate.
A potential redemption: Taylor Swift may reclaim her masters
The potential cost could range from $600 million to $1 billion, but for Swift, this is about more than just finances—it’s about taking back her legacy. Clayton Durant of CAD Management points out that owning both the original and newly recorded versions, such as her recent “Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version)” featured in The Handmaid’s Tale on May 21, 2025, would significantly boost her revenue. She would gain complete authority over licensing for various media while increasing royalties as re-releases usually heighten interest in the original versions.
This chance seems like a fresh opportunity for Swift, who has expressed feeling blindsided by the sale in 2019. However, some reports suggest the deal was well-known in the industry, with her father, Scott Swift, a Big Machine investor, being reported to have made $15-16 million from it, a claim corroborated by emails and the Bad Blood documentary.
In response, Swift opted to re-record her albums, a daring decision that began in 2021 and has transformed how artists approach ownership. For someone as affluent as Swift, this could be a matter of integrity, a strategy to mend the scars from 2019 when she lamented on Tumblr that her legacy was under threat. As she deliberates on this billion-dollar opportunity, Swift’s ongoing battle serves as an inspiration, reiterating that even a major star can confront the industry and assert her rights.
