Earlier today, Taylor Swift wrote a blog post calling out Apple Music for not paying artists during their three month trial period of their new streaming service:
“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. 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 of band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success.”
Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue, who reports to none other than CEO Tim Cook, just tweeted in response to Tay Tay’s viral post.
Apple will always make sure that artist are paid #iTunes #AppleMusic
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015
#AppleMusic will pay artist for streaming, even during customer’s free trial period
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015
We hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015
Look, it should not take Taylor Swift to force Apple to pay artists for three whole months, but major props to them for listening and responding so quickly, and then deciding to reverse this dimwitted decision.
And for all the haters who said Taylor’s post was motivated by greed for herself – well, maybe. Maybe she is being greedy, thinking that a multi-national company should pay her for her work. But now she’s used her star power to secure payment for every artist, including the ones still struggling financially (which tbh is a lot of them). And goddamit, that’s something.
You keep slayin’, Taylor <3
Picture: Jamie McCarthy via Getty Images
