Taylor Swift Posts Open Letter to Apple, Calls Apple Music Free Trial 'Shocking, Disappointing'

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Posted June 21, 2015 at 5:02pm by iClarified

Taylor Swift has posted an open letter to Apple explaining why she is holding back her album 1989 from the upcoming Apple Music service.

Swift, like many others, is shocked and disappointed with the terms Apple has asked artists and labels to agree to as part of its three month free trial.

"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."

Taylor Swift Posts Open Letter to Apple, Calls Apple Music Free Trial 'Shocking, Disappointing'

Swift notes that she doesn't need the money but is taking a stand for smaller bands and artists for whom the loss of a quarter of a year's worth of income is big deal. Additionally, she says that her fellow artists feel the same but are afraid to speak out against Apple.

"Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing. I say this with love, reverence, and admiration for everything else Apple has done. I hope that soon I can join them in the progression towards a streaming model that seems fair to those who create this music. I think this could be the platform that gets it right."

Finally, Swift calls on Apple to reverse its policy:

"It’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation."

A change in policy would most definitely be welcomed by indie labels who recently said Apple Music's free trial would leave them 'completely screwed'.

You can read Swift's full letter at the link below...

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F uckuplle - June 24, 2015 at 6:03am

Big U TURN for APPLE! Taylor Win! Now Move on Fanboy!!

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jcapple - June 23, 2015 at 3:14pm

Let us download all apps free for 3 months.

Spawn - June 22, 2015 at 5:18pm

I don't like Taylor Swift music but as a former musician I have to agree with her. Is not about the money because she has a lot of it! It's about principals. Being a musician is a difficult job and not considered as a career unless you play in a famous band. Many musicians play for the love of the art, unfortunately many greedy people take advantage of it. See the "TLC" movie, famous band out of Atlanta and broke with no money all thanks to promoters and producers....Apple is no different from promoters, producers and record labels. This is shameful from Apple, pay the musicians as they've earned the respect and love of their music! You (Apple) have destroyed record labels thanks to iTunes and musicians who supported your company. Why now abuse with no payment during free trial? This is absurd. Taylor Swift great job for taking a stand, this is not just for you but for all musicians!

Speaklogic - June 22, 2015 at 7:56am

The Apple Apologist won't like this, but this corporate monstrosity has reach greed and disrespect levels of biblical proportions and will continue undermining artist and exploit works for the almighty bottom line.

Techno - June 22, 2015 at 6:21am

If Taylor Swift was smart, she would take the deal of free advertising. The apple users buys music and I would pay apple to advertise my music for three months.

dkdk - June 22, 2015 at 10:15am

Using your logic, she should never get paid, Apple should just "advertise" her music forever and never pay her. You're a genius.

Lucas - June 22, 2015 at 5:10am

Well how much more money do you need? You're already rich so is 3 months gonna kill you that bad?

Spawn - June 22, 2015 at 5:25pm

Agreed, she has all the money of the world so the hell withTaylor Swift, but what about the rest of the bands who don't have her money? She is speaking on behalf of the rest of the bands in this business. Let me ask you this, would you work for free for 3 months with no salary and still support your family?

Reality Truth - June 22, 2015 at 3:45am

Intellectual property as well as the belief in ownership of anything is a poor substitute for sharing everything! Copyright is wrong as it's based in paper fiction. How can you own a song? Did you invent words, letters or the alphabet? No! Did you invent music? No. The creative impulse directs and my intellect follows so how can I own what is the byproduct. Creation owns everything! The issue is the corruption of money which is an aberration. How much is a "note" worth? When I suggest to people that we all give up mon-eye they act like I'm trying to steal their crack pipe.

Speaklogic - June 22, 2015 at 2:29am

Apple has over $150 billion in Cash, yes cold hard cash in the bank. Do you people even realize how incredibly large sum of cash that is that's more than Bill Gates entire net worth we need to do something and that's boycotting Apple stop buying Apple products!!

I have no idea - June 22, 2015 at 1:42am

I am guessing something about screwing indi-labels, but don't many contracts pay every quarter? Doesn't this strategy benefit both in the long run? I hope not that many people have all their bills relying solely on the "Music" service without anyone who uses iTunes store, but then again they were quite screwed before "Music" as well.

Music lover - June 21, 2015 at 10:46pm

It don't matter if you like her music or not she has a point but then again I bet most people saying negative things are not artist that live off and revive royalty checks every quarter ...I think it's commendable that she is fighting for the rights as a whole as appose to just her own...her influence can help many other rating who don't have such a strong voice/influence and machine working for them. Apple already make a clean 30% from music we put on iTunes and now we have to forfeit a whole quarter of income so that they can test their service? That is asking too much specially when they can afford the hit...honestly I don't need the money but the fact is that it still is my money ...and I work too hard to just give it away because they want to test it out...what would they have if artist said no? They are making money from our talent and so should we!

stevenlacross - June 22, 2015 at 2:21am

Totally agree with you, Apple had been screwing companies out of money left and right, take Apple pay, Apple's making so much money on that, the credit card companies are making less than Apple on each transaction, ridiculous. But they have to do it because apples got them by the balls. Apple needs to be taken down, they are becoming like skynet.

curtixman - June 21, 2015 at 8:31pm

The policy clearly represents that Apple does it have sufficient enough faith in this endeavour to invest that much upfront cost. So... If they don't have faith in it, why would the artists?

gamerscul9870 - June 21, 2015 at 7:54pm

What did she expect? Does she always want something in return for music just to be the richest out there? Pfft.

Spawn - June 22, 2015 at 6:41pm

She expects respect and principals for the hard working musicians that put music in your ears. She is speaking on behalf of all hard working musicians that get crushed by big companies and can't speak their opinion because they are not famous enough. Is that fair to say?

Samsuck - June 21, 2015 at 7:48pm

I believe small bands don't want to miss the chance of not getting onto apple music!!

dkdk - June 21, 2015 at 7:20pm

I'm confused... Apple can't just buy one copy of a DC and stream it online to its customers without permission. So if Apple streams music, for free or otherwise, it has to be subject to agreements with the label companies. Somebody, somewhere, agreed to let Apple do this, so what's all the hubbub?

Status - June 21, 2015 at 7:11pm

Who cares!!

ywhat - June 21, 2015 at 6:30pm

Being a musician for 28 years.....artists are people who paint and draw.....i am a musician....taylor swift is a songwriter/singer...making 3 minute songs about a boy isnt an art...i hate when singers call themselves artists...especially when rappers call themselves artists...

stevenlacross - June 22, 2015 at 2:16am

You've been a musician for that long and haven't made anything of yourself? No wonder you made that comment

Tech Jedi - June 21, 2015 at 6:20pm

Taylor Swift is such a greedy artist. She pulls her music from spotify because she doesn't believe in free service and she made millions doing so, and now she is using an excuse about smaller bands to squeeze money out of Apple too. What's next, she gonna charge for her autographs too?

stevenlacross - June 22, 2015 at 2:15am

A lot of people charge for autographs, have you ever been to a expo?

Ortiz - June 21, 2015 at 6:13pm

Maybe this is the publicity this smaller bands been waiting for .cause I'm sure people only pay for big name artist like yourself

Amir - June 21, 2015 at 5:59pm

Apple won't change anything for a few artists Drake is one of the best artists and he was there when the service was introduced and she is is the only one yet who said it's disappointing and shocking.

Amir - June 21, 2015 at 6:53pm

Chose one of these. Taylor swift or drake

stevenlacross - June 22, 2015 at 2:14am

Taylor swift

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