Best-selling artist Taylor Swift quickly won a smackdown with tech giant Apple over royalty payments to entertainers and others on its streaming service. All it took was an open letter to the company on
Tumblr on Sunday morning.
Swift, whose latest album "1989" continues to spawn chart-topping hits, took Apple to task for its Apple Music streaming service and the fact Apple wasn't planning to pay writers, producers or artists during the three-month free trial period for customers.
"This is not about me," said Swift. "This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success. This is about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt."
"This is about the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field…but will not get paid for a quarter of a year's worth of plays on his or her songs," she said.
Swift said Apple's position was "shocking, disappointing and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company."
The artist's complaint found its way to Apple officials, who were certainly aware that just last fall Swift yanked her entire catalog off the streaming service Spotify over the same issues, moving it to Jay Z's new streaming service Tidal,
according to the Wall Street Journal.
By Sunday night, Apple's senior vice president Eddy Cue responded to Swift's meme on Twitter, stating the company will now pay royalties during the free trial period.
The news appeared to please her boyfriend, DJ Calvin Harris.