Apple Reverses Royalties Policy After Taylor Swift Criticism
Well, that was a “Swift” response.
Less than 24 hours after chart-topping singer Taylor Swift criticized Apple for not paying royalties to artists during the three-month free-trial period for its new Apple Music service, the company’s chief content czar signaled the policy has been reversed via Twitter.
“Apple will always make sure that artist are paid,” tweeted Apple’s Eddy Cue on Sunday night in a series of three tweets that called out Swift.
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
Cue’s response may have headed off what could have been a bruising battle for Apple during a crucial period in which Apple Music is attempting to compete with streaming services like Spotify, which knows all too well what it’s like to be on the receiving end of Swift’s ire.
Swift signaled earlier in the day that Apple’s refusal to pay royalties during the initial period meant she would hold back her latest album, “1989,” from availability on Apple Music.
“I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company,” she wrote on her Tumblr page.
Related stories
Taylor Swift Slams 'Shocking, Disappointing' Free Apple Music Trial
Apple Music's Missing Link: How Beats Electronics Fumbled Its Sonos Killer (EXCLUSIVE)
Spotify Clocks 20 Million Paid Subscribers, Raises $526 Million
Get more from Variety and Variety411: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter