Taylor Swift vs Scooter Braun
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July 18, 2026
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Taylor Swift vs Scooter Braun
Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun’s dispute centered on ownership of her first six album masters, escalating through public accusations, licensing disagreements and Swift’s Taylor’s Version re-recordings.
Scooter Braun is an American entertainment executive and investor known for artist management, developing pop careers and acquisitions across music and media.
Scooter Braun
Background
Taylor Swift released her first six albums through Big Machine Records, which owned the master recordings. When she left the label in 2018, those masters remained with Big Machine. Swift and label founder Scott Borchetta later disagreed over whether she had been offered a fair route to buy them.
On June 30, 2019, Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings acquired Big Machine and gained control of the masters. Swift said Braun’s ownership was her “worst case scenario” and accused him of supporting actions that had humiliated her. Borchetta and Braun’s side disputed parts of her account.
Public Escalation
In November 2019, Swift said Braun and Big Machine were restricting her ability to perform her early songs at the American Music Awards and use them in a Netflix documentary. Big Machine denied blocking a live performance, while the dispute also involved recording, rebroadcast and licensing rights.
Swift performed the songs at the awards. Braun asked for direct communication and said his family had received threats. The conflict had moved beyond the original sale into a wider dispute over ownership, licensing and control of Swift’s earlier work.
Re-recordings and Sale
Swift responded by re-recording the albums, giving her new master recordings that she could control. In November 2020, Ithaca sold the original masters to Shamrock Capital. Swift said she had not been given a direct chance to buy them first and declined to work with Shamrock because Braun retained a financial interest.
The Taylor’s Version releases created an alternative catalogue and changed the licensing choices available to listeners, advertisers and filmmakers. The strategy also made the dispute a prominent example of how recording contracts affect an artist’s control over income and legacy.
Current Status
On May 30, 2025, Swift announced that she had bought the original master recordings of her first six albums from Shamrock. The price was not disclosed. The purchase gave her ownership of the recordings that had triggered the dispute as well as the re-recorded versions she had created.
The deal did not produce a court ruling on the parties’ earlier disagreements about negotiations, notice or licensing. Braun said in a May 2026 interview that he wished Swift well. No personal reconciliation has been announced, but the central business dispute is resolved because Swift now owns both the original masters and her re-recorded versions.
June 30, 2019
Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings acquired Big Machine and the masters of Swift’s first six albums. Swift said she learned of the buyer with the public announcement and accused Braun of “incessant, manipulative bullying.”
Braun’s Company Acquires Swift’s Masters
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August 22, 2019
Swift said she would re-record her earlier albums once contract terms allowed it. The plan turned the ownership dispute into a long-term strategy to create new masters she controlled.
Swift Announces Plans to Re-Record Her Albums
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November 14, 2019
Swift alleged Braun and Scott Borchetta were restricting recorded or rebroadcast use of her older songs for the AMAs and a Netflix documentary. Big Machine denied blocking a live performance and disputed her account of the licensing limits.
Swift Alleges Restrictions on Recorded Performances
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November 18, 2019
Big Machine announced a licensing agreement allowing Swift’s American Music Awards performance to be streamed and rebroadcast. The deal removed the immediate obstacle to the televised medley.
AMA Rebroadcast Licensing Is Cleared
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November 22, 2019
Braun said his family had received “numerous death threats” and asked Swift to speak with him directly. He also said she was free to perform her songs and that he wanted a resolution.
Braun Appeals to Swift After Reported Threats
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November 24, 2019
Swift performed a career-spanning medley at the American Music Awards, opening in a shirt printed with the names of her first six albums. The set kept the ownership dispute central to the appearance.
Swift Centers the Masters Dispute at the AMAs
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November 16, 2020
Ithaca sold Swift’s original masters to Shamrock Capital. Swift said she declined a partnership because Braun would continue to benefit financially and confirmed that her re-recording project was underway.
Ithaca Sells Swift’s Masters to Shamrock Capital
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April 9, 2021
Swift released “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” the first completed album in her re-recording project. It gave listeners and licensees an artist-owned alternative to the 2008 master.
Swift Releases “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)”
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November 12, 2021
Swift released “Red (Taylor’s Version),” continuing the replacement-catalog strategy with a new recording of her 2012 album and additional songs from its original sessions.
Swift Releases “Red (Taylor’s Version)”
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July 7, 2023
Swift released “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version),” the third album in the project. The release expanded the share of her early catalog available through masters she owned.
Swift Releases “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)”
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Timeline
💡 Did You Know?
• A master is the specific recorded version of a song, which is legally separate from the underlying lyrics and composition.
• All four Taylor's Version albums released between 2021 and 2023 debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
• 1989 (Taylor's Version) opened with 1.653 million equivalent album units, then the largest week for any album in nearly a decade.
• Swift's 2025 purchase included the original masters, music videos, concert films, album artwork, photography and unreleased songs. The price was not disclosed.
Further watching & listening
Selected interviews, releases and external links connected to this feud.
MUSIC
STREAMING
“Red (Taylor’s Version)”
The re-recorded “Red” album includes new versions of the original tracks and additional songs from its writing sessions.
MUSIC
STREAMING
“1989 (Taylor’s Version)”
The fourth Taylor’s Version album re-records “1989” and adds five songs from the original album sessions.
INTERVIEWS
FREE
Taylor Swift Discusses Re-Recording Her Albums
The CBS interview includes Swift confirming that she planned to re-record her earlier albums to create new masters.
MUSIC
STREAMING
“Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)”
The third Taylor’s Version release revisits “Speak Now” with newly recorded masters and six vault songs.
ARTICLES
FREE
Taylor Swift’s June 2019 Masters Statement
Swift’s June 2019 statement says she learned of Braun’s purchase with the public announcement and explains why she opposed the sale.
MUSIC
STREAMING
“Fearless (Taylor’s Version)”
Swift’s first re-recorded album provides a new, artist-owned version of “Fearless,” including additional songs from the original era.
Disclosure: Some external media links may be affiliate or partner links. This does not affect the timeline, source selection or editorial framing.