Taylor Swift’s Twitter feed was in full session yesterday, as the singer/songwriter in a series of tweets blasted Big Machine Label Group founder’s Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta for denying her rights to perform her old catalog of songs recorded under the label, for the upcoming American Music Video Awards and also to be used in the developing Netflix documentary about her life.
Taylor twitted, “I’ve been planning to perform a medley of my hits throughout the decade on the show. Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun have now said that I’m not allowed to perform my old songs on television because they claim that would be re-recording my music before I’m allowed to next year.”
In less than 24 hours after the tweet popped-up, over 35,000 Swifties (a moniker for her large fanbase) led by Jade Rossi took to Change.org to sign a petition calling on Braun, Borchetta and investment firm The Carlyle Group to stop holding Taylor’s art hostage.
The petition reads, “They refuse to let Taylor perform or use her music, the music she wrote, under any circumstances unless she gives up the right to re-record her old albums as well as stop using their names, which is gross and almost blackmail. Not allowing Taylor Swift to use her music in any project is manipulative and power hungry, all over music she wrote. Letting them get away with this will continue the disgusting sexism of the music industry as well as manipulation of smaller/upcoming artists who just want to create art.”
Michael Jones, managing director of campaigns at Change.org reports that the appeal is one of the fastest-growing petitions on the platform this month. a sign which indicates Swifties come all out for their favorite.
Big Machine has however come out to debunk the allegations leveled against them by Taylor in a release statement, which also indicates contractual debt the singer owes them in millions of dollars and multiple assets.
“At no point did we say Taylor could not perform on the AMAs or block her Netflix special. In fact, we do not have the right to keep her from performing live anywhere. Since Taylor’s decision to leave Big Machine last fall, we have continued to honor all of her requests to license her catalog to third parties as she promotes her current record in which we do not financially participate,” Big Machine wrote.
According to the label, efforts have been made to have a peaceful talk with Swift and her team, but all efforts have proved futile, since inception of the numerous miscommunications between both parties.
