Taylor Swift has shared a statement via Twitter stating that Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta aren’t allowing her to perform her old songs.
In the statement, she explains that the American Music Awards recently announced they’d be honouring her with Artist of the Decade at this year’s ceremony. She said she was planning to perform a medley of her hits throughout the decade for the show, but has been prevented from doing so by her formal label boss Scott Borchetta and music manager Scooter Braun
“Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun have now said I’m not allowed to perform my old songs on television because that would be re-recording my music before I’m allowed to next year.” In June this year, Braun purchased the master recording rights to Swift’s back catalogue, excluding her latest release Lover.
If you’re feeling lost, we put together a summary of the situation over here.
In her post, Swift also revealed that Netflix has been filming a doco about her life for the past few years. She said, “Scott and Scooter have declined the use of my older music or performance footage for this project, even though there is no mention of either of them or Big Machine Records anywhere in the film.”
Swift alleges that Scott Borchetta told her team they could use the music if they did two things. The first is for Swift to agree to not re-record her songs next year, on which Swift said, “is something I’m both legally allowed to do and looking forward to.” (Head here for the backstory on Taylor’s plans to re-record her old music.)
Borchetta also reportedly told Swift’s team that she needs to stop talking about him and Scooter Braun.
Taylor continued, “I feel very strongly that sharing what is happening to me could change the awareness level for other artists and potentially help them avoid a similar fate.”
She said the message being sent to her is clear. “Basically, be a good little girl and shut up. Or you’ll be punished.” She continued, “This is WRONG.”
Swift then urged fans to let Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun know how they feel.
“Scooter also manages several artists who I really believe care about other artists and their work. Please ask them for help with this — I’m hoping that maybe they can talk some sense into the men who are exercising tyrannical control over someone who just wants to play the music she wrote,” she said.
Along with Justin Bieber, Braun manages Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, and Hilary Duff.
Swift wrapped up the statement saying, “Right now, my performance at the AMAs, the Netflix documentary and any other recorded events I am planning to play until November 2020 are a big question mark. I love you guys and I thought you should know what’s been going on.”
Read the statement in full below.
Don’t know what else to do pic.twitter.com/1uBrXwviTS
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) November 14, 2019
