Pop singer accuses music mogul of hostile terms as song catalogue deal with private equity firm is completed
Taylor Swift has criticised music industry mogul Scooter Braun over his sale of her master recordings to a US private equity firm, including the accusation that he attempted to use a non-disclosure agreement to “silence me forever” regarding terms of a potential sale.
The saga dates back to the start of Swift’s career, when she signed a six-album deal with label Big Machine, who held the master recordings as part of the deal terms. After Swift left for a new deal with Republic, Big Machine was sold to Braun in June 2019, giving him control over her Big Machine masters. Swift complained at the time: “My musical legacy is about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it,” accusing artist manager Braun of “incessant, manipulative bullying” over the years. Braun did not respond to the bullying allegation, but Big Machine owner Scott Borchetta stated at the time: “Scooter was never anything but positive about Taylor.”