Taylor Swift has effectively made the Apple Music streaming service change its policy by threatening to remove her “1989” album if the company did not promise to pay music creators during an advertised three-month free trial period.
According to CNN, Swift wrote in her blog post called “To Apple, Love Taylor” that Apple Music would not be paying writers, producers, or artists during those three free months.
“It’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this,” Swift wrote. “We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.”
“These are the echoed sentiments every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much. We simply do not respect this particular call,” she added.
WATCH:
Th blog post was shared tens of thousands of times.
Late Sunday night, Apple’s Eddy Cue tweeted about the policy’s change.
We hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015
#AppleMusic will pay artist for streaming, even during customer’s free trial period
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015
Apple will always make sure that artist are paid #iTunes #AppleMusic
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015
Apple will now be paying the artists, writers and producers for their music during the three-month free trial of Apple Music. Swift said she is “elated and relieved” in her tweet back to Cue.
I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us.
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 22, 2015