Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun
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Overview
Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun refers to a controversy over pop star Taylor Swift's masters after Scooter Braun acquired Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) in June 2019. Swift claimed to have been pressured into signing away her ownership of the masters while BMLG and its affiliates asserted that Swift passed up the opportunity willingly, leading many celebrities to take sides and share their own experiences with BMLG owner Scooter Braun.
Background
On June 30th, 2019 Billboard[1] reported that "Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings has agreed to acquire Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Label Group in a blockbuster deal backed by the Carlyle Group." That day, after the announcement, Taylor Swift posted a long note to Tumblr [2](shown below). The post features Justin Bieber's previous post which she claims was bullying ad then writes that she was not able to obtain her masters and that now a bully owns them. Her terms were that she would be able to obtain the masters one by one with every new record released with the label. She also claims that she heard about the companies acquisition through the news.
Notable Developments
On June 30th, 2019, Justin Bieber replied on Instagram[3] by defending Scooter Braun and apologizing for the initial Instagram post Swift included in her blog which has since been taken down (shown below). Bieber explains that he doesn't understand why she would take this issue online and not have a private conversation.
That same day, Scooter Braun's wife, Yael Braun posted a note to Instagram[4] calling Swift's post a temper tantrum and defending Braun's character (shown below). She also claims that Braun has nothing but support Swift throughout her career and that she should engage in a private conversation with her and the company on the subject.
On June 30th, Twitter user Yashar Ali[8] posted a thread showcasing different celebrities reacting to the controversy. The Twitter thread includes pop start Todrick Hall's response saying that Scooter Braun is "evil" and "homophobic" (shown below, left). Demi Lovato Responded to Hall's tweets defending Braun (shown below, right).
That same day, in a BMLG[5] blog post, Scott Borchetta responded to Taylor Swift by sharing their conversations and legal documunentation (shown below). He writes:
"As to her comments about ‘being in tears or close to it’ anytime my new partner Scooter Braun’s name was brought up, I certainly never experienced that. Was I aware of some prior issues between Taylor and Justin Bieber? Yes. But there were also times where Taylor knew that I was close to Scooter and that Scooter was a very good source of information for upcoming album releases, tours, etc, and I’d reach out to him for information on our behalf. Scooter was never anything but positive about Taylor. He called me directly about Manchester to see if Taylor would participate (she declined).
He called me directly to see if Taylor wanted to participate in the Parkland March (she declined). Scooter has always been and will continue to be a supporter and honest custodian for Taylor and her music. "
![BMLG Response to TS 8/15/18 Proposal (This is a proposal for discussion purposes only; any agreement is subject to the complete execution of a formal contract.) BMLG Response Paragraph of TS Proposal Subparagraph 1.Term: From execution for a period of seven years. 1. Term: From execution for a period of 10 years 2.Agreed 2. Upon execution, BMLG shall assign to TS all recordings (audio and/or audio-visual), artwork photographs, and any other materials relating to TS which BMLG owns or controls Such assignment shall be on a quitclaim basis, except for a warranty that there are no liens, encumbrances, or prior transfers, that BMLG has not breached any agreement between BMLG and a third party who granted rights or performed services with respect no other claims or restrictions that would affect Agreed, provided that the TS Materials would be subject to the terms and conditions of any license or other contract BMLG has entered into to-date with regard to them, including, without limitation, mechanical licenses, master licenses, union agreements, manufacturing agreements, distribution agreements and agreements with creators of content or their affiliates the assigned materials, and that there are ownership or control of such materials except as may be disclosed 3. During the Term, BMLG would have the exclusive license of all "Rights" to the "TS Materials" in the Territory 3. Agreed as to the Delivered Existing TS Materials & the New TS Materials (subject to the definitions of "Rights," "TS Materials" and "Territory" that BMLG proposes below). TS shall have the right to direct and/or approve all matters with respect to same, including, without limitation, direction or approval of all distribution agreements, licenses, marketing, promotion, and so forth, and the right to require licenses of the TS Materials to such parties and on such terms as she directs, all in her sole discretion, provided that all such agreements shall be in BMLG's name and will be executed by BMLG. [TS is open to discussing control of the distribution agreement other issues are resolved.] TS would retain the exclusive right to exploit the Undelivered Existing TS Materials, provided that no phonorecord uses may be made of them by any entity other than BMLG. BMLG agrees to the concept of TS control with regard to material, substantive issues (thresholds TDB) other than the choice of distributor(s) and manufacturers and the terms and conditions of the and when all agreement(s) with them.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/509/295/ce7.png "BMLG")
That night, Scooter Braun's only response was through sharing Instagram[6] Stories that defend his character as shown below in Yashar Ali's[8] thread. Other celebrities like Halsey, Cara Delevigne, Haim (also Danielle Haim), Iggy Azalea, Sky Ferreira, Jack Antonoff, Martha Hunt, Mandy Teefey, Alessia Cara, Charlie Puth, Sia and Cher have picked sides.[7]
Various Examples
Search Interest
External References
[1] Billboard – Scooter Bruan Acquires Big Machine Label
[2] Tumblr – Taylor Swift
[3] Instagram – Justin Beiber
[4] Instagram – Yael Braun
[5] Big Machine Label Group – Time for some truth
[6] Instagram – Scooter Braun
[7] Reddit – r/popheads
![BMLG Response to TS 8/15/18 Proposal (This is a proposal for discussion purposes only; any agreement is subject to the complete execution of a formal contract.) BMLG Response Paragraph of TS Proposal Subparagraph 1.Term: From execution for a period of seven years. 1. Term: From execution for a period of 10 years 2.Agreed 2. Upon execution, BMLG shall assign to TS all recordings (audio and/or audio-visual), artwork photographs, and any other materials relating to TS which BMLG owns or controls Such assignment shall be on a quitclaim basis, except for a warranty that there are no liens, encumbrances, or prior transfers, that BMLG has not breached any agreement between BMLG and a third party who granted rights or performed services with respect no other claims or restrictions that would affect Agreed, provided that the TS Materials would be subject to the terms and conditions of any license or other contract BMLG has entered into to-date with regard to them, including, without limitation, mechanical licenses, master licenses, union agreements, manufacturing agreements, distribution agreements and agreements with creators of content or their affiliates the assigned materials, and that there are ownership or control of such materials except as may be disclosed 3. During the Term, BMLG would have the exclusive license of all "Rights" to the "TS Materials" in the Territory 3. Agreed as to the Delivered Existing TS Materials & the New TS Materials (subject to the definitions of "Rights," "TS Materials" and "Territory" that BMLG proposes below). TS shall have the right to direct and/or approve all matters with respect to same, including, without limitation, direction or approval of all distribution agreements, licenses, marketing, promotion, and so forth, and the right to require licenses of the TS Materials to such parties and on such terms as she directs, all in her sole discretion, provided that all such agreements shall be in BMLG's name and will be executed by BMLG. [TS is open to discussing control of the distribution agreement other issues are resolved.] TS would retain the exclusive right to exploit the Undelivered Existing TS Materials, provided that no phonorecord uses may be made of them by any entity other than BMLG. BMLG agrees to the concept of TS control with regard to material, substantive issues (thresholds TDB) other than the choice of distributor(s) and manufacturers and the terms and conditions of the and when all agreement(s) with them.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/list/001/509/295/ce7.png "BMLG")
