Taylor Swift Claims That Scooter Braun And Scott Borchetta Are Blocking Her American Music Awards Performance
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Honored At The AMAs
Earlier this year, Scooter Braun purchased Big Machine Records for $300 million. With that purchase, he acquired the master recordings of Taylor Swift's first six records. Braun and Swift have long had beef, so she was angered by such a person acquiring her old catalog.
She negotiated the rights to rerecord the masters next year, but on Thursday night, Swift took to social media to say that Braun and David Borchetta were blocking her from using any of her old songs in a medley that she had planned for the American Music Awards.
"Guys – It's been announced recently that the American Music Awards will be honoring me with the Artist of the Decade Award at this year’s ceremony. I've been planning to perform a medley of my hits throughout the decade on the show. Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun have now said that I’m not allowed to perform my old songs on television because they claim that would be re-recording my music before I’m allowed to next year."
Blocking Her Life's Work
Swift continued, claiming they were also causing problems for a Netflix documentary that she would be releasing next year.
"Additionally — and this isn’t the way I had planned on telling you this news — Netflix has created a documentary about my life for the past few years. 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 believes that these men are punishing her for standing up for herself and not rolling over in the face of pressure.
"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. The message being sent to me is very clear. Basically, be a good little girl and shut up. Or you'll be punished.
This is WRONG. Neither of these men had a hand in the writing of those songs. They did nothing to create the relationship I have with my fans. So this is where I'm asking for your help."
Without Options
Swift called upon her fans to help her with the situation, thanking them for their longtime support.
"Please let Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun know how you feel about this. 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. I’m especially asking for help from The Carlyle Group, who put up money for the sale of my music to these two men.
I just want to be able to perform MY OWN music. That's it. I've tried to work this out privately through my team but have not been able to resolve anything. Right now my performance at the AMAs, the Netflix documentary and any other recorded events I am planning to play until November of 2020 are a question mark."
Fans Are Supportive
Swift ended her post with "I love you guys and I thought you should know what’s been going on."
The Swifties, known as one of the most passionate fanbases out there, mobilized immediately. #FreeTaylor and #IStandWithTaylor began to trend on Twitter. Not only that but they started a petition against Braun that, as of the publication time of this post, had already gotten over 36,000 signatures.
Scooter Braun might wield a ton of influence in the music industry, but I wouldn't bet against Swift and her fans.
