Just a tree

oh whoops didn’t realize that i only reblogged an excerpt! this is the part that i found to be new to us:

The two camps disagree on what exactly transpired. Ms Swift and Mr Borchetta had been discussing ownership of the masters to her six albums as far back as 2015, according to people close to the situation. Ms Swift said that she had spent years trying to buy the masters to the six albums she made with Big Machine Records, but was only offered an option to gain control of one at a time, in exchange for each new album she made.

One person close to Mr Borchetta admits he did offer her that deal, but that it was years ago. Mr Borchetta contended he gave in to all of her demands when trying to persuade her to stay with Big Machine as her six-album contract was expiring last year.

Negotiations broke down last autumn, however, and Ms Swift signed with Universal Music’s Republic Records, which offered her ownership of all her future work. Mr Borchetta put Big Machine up for sale in October, according to people familiar with the situation, and the industry expected the label to end up with Universal.

For years I asked, pleaded for a chance to own my work. Instead I was given an opportunity to sign back up to Big Machine Records and ‘earn’ one album back at a time, one for every new one I turned in. I walked away because I knew once I signed that contract, Scott Borchetta would sell the label, thereby selling me and my future. I had to make the excruciating choice to leave behind my past. Music I wrote on my bedroom floor and videos I dreamed up and paid for from the money I earned playing in bars, then clubs, then arenas, then stadiums. 

Some fun facts about today’s news: I learned about Scooter Braun’s purchase of my masters as it was announced to the world. All I could think about was the incessant, manipulative bullying I’ve received at his hands for years. 

Like when Kim Kardashian orchestrated an illegally recorded snippet of a phone call to be leaked and then Scooter got his two clients together to bully me online about it. (See photo) Or when his client, Kanye West, organized a revenge porn music video which strips my body naked. Now Scooter has stripped me of my life’s work, that I wasn’t given an opportunity to buy. Essentially, my musical legacy is about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it.

This is my worst case scenario. This is what happens when you sign a deal at fifteen to someone for whom the term ‘loyalty’ is clearly just a contractual concept. And when that man says ‘Music has value’, he means its value is beholden to men who had no part in creating it. 

When I left my masters in Scott’s hands, I made peace with the fact that eventually he would sell them. Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine the buyer would be Scooter. Any time Scott Borchetta has heard the words ‘Scooter Braun’ escape my lips, it was when I was either crying or trying not to. He knew what he was doing; they both did. Controlling a woman who didn’t want to be associated with them. In perpetuity. That means forever. 

Thankfully, I am now signed to a label that believes I should own anything I create. Thankfully, I left my past in Scott’s hands and not my future. And hopefully, young artists or kids with musical dreams will read this and learn about how to better protect themselves in a negotiation. You deserve to own the art you make.

I will always be proud of my past work. But for a healthier option, Lover will be out August 23. 

Sad and grossed out,

💔

Jojo showing support for @taylorswift 😍😍😭😭🥰🥰❤️❤️

Jojo went through sort of a similar experience and re-recorded her previous albums last year - https://t.co/VapNSI9ci8

Like no Scott. Yeah, okay you found her. Keep in mind though, at that time, you had nothing. Taylor took a chance on YOU, she got your career started. She got your label recognition. Everyone knows Big Machine, everyone knows your name BECAUSE OF HER. Because she worked her ass off for 13 years, not because of you. She got to where she is today, not because of you Scott. She got to where she is today because of HER.