Apple Music loses important exclusive as Taylor Swift comes to Spotify, other services
Beginning on Friday, the back catalog of pop singer Taylor Swift will be available on all major streaming services, putting an end to one of Apple's most useful exclusives.
An announcement came in unison with Swift's "1989" album selling 10 million copies worldwide, and reaching 100 Million Song Certification with the Recording Industry Association of America. Some services getting the artist's discography will include Amazon Music, Tidal, Pandora Premium, and industry leader Spotify.
Swift's music will be available on both the free and Premium tiers of Spotify, TechCrunch sources said.
The singer infamously pulled most of her music from Spotify in 2014, upset that the company wouldn't limit it to Premium subscribers. Earlier this year however the service reached deals to pay lower royalties to some labels in exchange for two-week delays on some high-profile records, applied to non-Premium customers.
Swift initially took a similar stance against Apple Music, since Apple was planning to skip paying any royalties for streams during a listener's three-month trial. An open letter prompted the company to immediately reverse course.
In fact Swift became not just an exclusive for Apple but a marquee figure, appearing in several ads and a concert film. Her global popularity may have kept some listeners from switching to other platforms.
An announcement came in unison with Swift's "1989" album selling 10 million copies worldwide, and reaching 100 Million Song Certification with the Recording Industry Association of America. Some services getting the artist's discography will include Amazon Music, Tidal, Pandora Premium, and industry leader Spotify.
Swift's music will be available on both the free and Premium tiers of Spotify, TechCrunch sources said.
The singer infamously pulled most of her music from Spotify in 2014, upset that the company wouldn't limit it to Premium subscribers. Earlier this year however the service reached deals to pay lower royalties to some labels in exchange for two-week delays on some high-profile records, applied to non-Premium customers.
Swift initially took a similar stance against Apple Music, since Apple was planning to skip paying any royalties for streams during a listener's three-month trial. An open letter prompted the company to immediately reverse course.
In fact Swift became not just an exclusive for Apple but a marquee figure, appearing in several ads and a concert film. Her global popularity may have kept some listeners from switching to other platforms.
Comments
The headline makes it sound overly negative. Why?
That pic isn't doing any favours to her. She looks like a batty old lady with her cat.
When this happen I thought Taylor fans we are were mostly young and she was forcing them into some sort of paid subscription. Most young people I know are still using the free tiers one Spotify or Pandora very few at are posting for Apple music.
to me this is 'Meh' and of little significance to Apple in general.
[1] Can't see the point of paying for the service and the internet connection to listen to a song I probably have on Vinyl or Cassette or CD or Legally downloaded. YMMV.
As for new music, the likes of Bob Harris is good enough for me and I listen to him on good old Radio.
In music it sure does. Everyone wants the latest. Who's hot, who's up and coming. Which is why people scramble for the newest album by Drake (for example). Having "the next big thing" for 30 days before anyone else is a big deal. Until the next artist comes along.
Someone mentioned The Beatles and Led Zeppelin. Not the same. The music industry has changed permanently. Taylor Swift, as popular as she is, won't be remembered 50 years later. To quote the lyrics of a Zappacosta song, "It's all been done before". There will never be another group like The Beatles that redefines music and has a lasting impact.
On a related note, I find the flip-flop of people posting online to be quite funny. When Apple gets Taylor Swift as an exclusive it doesn't mean anything because her music is garbage. When they lose Taylor Swift it's suddenly a huge loss. Apple is doomed either way.
Second, did anybody ever say or expect this exclusive to last forever??? Typically, you want the exclusive when something is new so you can capture most of the sales. One year is a pretty good run. We'll understand how successful this particular exclusive was for Apple and Swift when she releases her next album.