Taylor Swift Put Apple in Her Burn Book

Taylor Swift wrote a long-winded missive explaining why she won’t be putting her album 1989 on Apple Music, Apple’s new streaming music service. The short version is because she won’t be paid during the 3 month trial period the service offers users. The long version is whatever the hell she wrote on her Tumblr.

I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.

Swift’s letter does some finger wagging at Apple but at the same time, there’s a lot of Apple ass kissing. She makes it clear this isn’t about her, but more about the little guys. The new talent who won’t be getting royalties.

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.

Because that’s exactly what happens all the time with a non-streaming model. I remember when Pavement released their first cut. They’re practically living in mansions waving around Michael Bay f**k you money in the air. Oh, wait. That never happened. I guess new artists will just have to enjoy the same bitter disappointment old artists did.