“As Kanye West learned the hard way back in 2009, it’s not smart to mess with Taylor Swift,” Ryan Faughnder and Randy Lewis report for The Los Angeles Times.
“Few today would dare grab the microphone from Swift, now 25,” Faughnder and Lewis report. “Her clout was underscored Sunday when she forced Apple — financially, the world’s mightiest company — to abandon plans to withhold artist royalties for music streamed during the three-month free trial period for Apple Music.”
“Neil Young’s longtime manager Elliot Roberts called it ‘a watershed moment’ and a rare victory for musicians who have seen their earnings from recorded music steadily decline in the digital age,” Faughnder and Lewis report. “Others had complained about Apple’s plans, to no avail. Few in the industry were surprised that Apple listened to Swift. ‘She wields a mighty sword,’ said Nielsen analyst David Bakula. ‘She is at the top of the game. She is the most well-known, most well-liked and most outspoken artist out there. When Taylor speaks, it’s so much more than just her social media following.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: With each article that springs up, this sounds more and more like a planned PR stunt that benefits both Taylor Swift and Apple Music.
And, if this wasn’t planned, it should have been.
SEE ALSO:
Apple Music to pay rights holders on a per-stream basis during three-month free trial – June 22, 2015
Taylor Swift wins streaming battle as Apple backs down on royalty payments – June 22, 2015
Apple responds to Taylor Swift, indie label complaints; will pay royalties during Apple Music 3-month free trial – June 22, 2015