Taylor Swift created a stir online when she politely asked Apple to change their Apple Music service and terms. In a blog post ” To Apple, From Taylor” on tumblr, Swift said she was withholding the record. She was unhappy with the non payment policy for artists due to three-month free trial offered to subscribers.
Taylor’s huge status has forced the company to change its policies. Now Apple says it will pay artists for music streamed during trial periods. The 25 year old singer said she finds it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company. She described Apple to be one of her “best partner in selling music”.
Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation, she added
Apple’s executive tweeted “We hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple.”
The Shake It Off singer tweeted: “I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us.”
The Incorporated Society of Musicians, the musicians’ professional body, welcomed the news. But Deborah Annetts, its chief executive, said more needed to be done for musicians. She appreciated the latest news but she said ” But the fact remains that this service is not giving musicians, many of whom are session artists or non-featured artists, any new rights. And worse still, it will pay them virtually nothing.”