Taylor Swift Will Stream Her Album 1989 on Apple Music

Alyssa Bereznak
·National Correspondent, Technology
Updated
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Stop everything: T. Swift has spoken. (Sky News)

They’re getting back together.

Less than a week after Taylor Swift called out Apple for not paying artists during its the three-month trial of its new streaming service, she’s done a complete 180. On Thursday, she announced via a series of Tweets that she will indeed allow her new album, 1989, to be streamed on Apple Music.

Swift’s announcement comes just four days after she publicly criticized the tech giant for its mistreatment of independent artists. Her instantly-viral Tumblr post, titled “To Apple, Love Taylor,” called the company’s decision to not pay artists during Apple Music’s three-month trial “shocking” and “disappointing.” In it, she argued that artists “don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.”

Apple’s vice president of Internet Software and Services, Eddy Cue, responded 17 hours later on Twitter, saying “#AppleMusic will pay artist for streaming, even during customer’s free trial period" and “We hear hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple.” Cue reportedly met with Apple CEO Tim Cook that day to discuss the concern, which had been voiced by other artists, but was pushed into the spotlight by Swift. She was  thrilled with the decision.

On Wednesday, Apple signed a deal with the Worldwide Independent Network, a group that represents independent record labels across the world.

Swift, it appears, was satisfied enough to give the company what no other music streaming service has: access to her latest album, 1989. Her explanation? “This is simply the first time it’s felt right in my gut to stream my album.”

Cue promptly responded:

And so goes the tale of Apple v. Taylor Swift: former enemies, current lovers, and definitely very, very rich.

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