Taylor Swift Could Buy Her Original Recordings Back; Scooter Braun Reportedly Supports the Deal

Taylor Swift might finally get the chance to own her original music after years of public battles. Sources say her former rival, Scooter Braun, is now encouraging the deal.

Taylor Swift could soon buy back the master recordings of her first six albums. This comes after a long fight over who owns her early music. The albums include Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, and Reputation.

The master recordings were sold in 2019 to music manager Scooter Braun for $300 million. Swift was upset because she said she was not given a chance to buy them herself. She called Braun a “bully” and accused him of “toxic male privilege” in the music industry.

Braun later sold the recordings to investment firm Shamrock Capital in 2020. Now, Shamrock is reportedly willing to sell them back to Swift. Surprisingly, Braun is said to be supporting this move.

“One of the individuals who is encouraging this deal to take place is Scooter, who was at the center of the deal the first time around alongside Big Machine,” a source told Page Six.

If Swift buys her masters, it could cost between $600 million and $1 billion. Music expert Clayton Durant says owning both the original and re-recorded versions would help her earn more money. She would also control how her songs are used in movies, TV shows, and ads.

Swift has already re-recorded four of the six albums, calling them Taylor’s Version. Fans love these new versions, which include extra songs. She released Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Red (Taylor’s Version), Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), and 1989 (Taylor’s Version).

The re-recordings were a way for Swift to regain control of her music. She started this process after Braun bought her masters. Her new versions have been very successful, earning her millions in royalties.

“If she could claw back and create a deal structure where she could get the rights to her original recordings, she exponentially increases the amount of money she makes,” Durant explained.

Swift has always said she was not told about the 2019 sale in advance. However, some reports claim her father, Scott Swift, who was a Big Machine shareholder, made $16 million from the deal. Emails suggest he knew about the sale.

The dispute led to a big debate in the music industry about artists owning their work. Many singers supported Swift’s decision to re-record her songs. Some record labels have since changed their contracts to prevent similar situations.

Swift’s fight for her music has made her even more popular. Her Eras Tour became one of the highest-grossing tours ever, earning over $2 billion. She also released a new album, The Tortured Poets Department, in 2024.

Fans are now waiting for Reputation (Taylor’s Version) and her debut album’s re-recording. A preview of Reputation was recently heard in an episode of The Handmaid’s Tale.

If Swift buys back her masters, it would be a major win for her career. She would have full control over her music and earn more from it. For now, fans are watching to see if the deal happens.

Credits: Sources include Marca, and Yahoo Entertainment.

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