TAYLOR
SEEKS
SWIFT
JUSTICE
B
ig Machine, the record label created by Scott Borchetta with in recording contracts, especially prior to the streaming age), left the
a roster that includes Florida Georgia Line and Midland as label last year, claims that the only way she could regain the rights
well as newer artist Carly Pearce, has been sold for more to her earlier work was to re-sign with Big Machine and ‘earn’ one
than $300m. Through its subsidiary Valory Music Group it also has album back for every new one she produced. Swift stated, “I walked
Reba, Thomas Rhett and Aaron Lewis on its books. Most notably it is away because I knew once I signed that contract, Scott Borchetta
the label that started Taylor Swift’s career and the singer-songwriter would sell the label, thereby selling me and my future.”
is none too happy that the buyer has gained control of her first six Borchetta meanwhile dismisses Swift’s claims saying, “she had
albums. The situation is made worse, in Swift’s eyes, that the buyer, every chance in the world” to own her recordings and rather, “chose
Scooter Braun, manages Justin Beiber and Ariana Grande and has to leave.”
previously worked with Kanye West with whom Swift has had an on-
going ‘spat’ for several years.
Big Machine have recently been issuing some of Swift’s early
singles as 45s on limited coloured vinyl which have sold out
Accusing Braun of being an “incessant, manipulative bully” on immediately despite many fans saying they would boycott them. Last
social media, Swift also stated that “This is my worst case scenario.” we heard, Swift is considering re-recording her older material so that
Swift, who signed to Big Machine when she was just 15 years old in
a deal that gave the label control of her work in perpetuity (common
she owns the recordings. It does kind of beg the question, just how
much money does one person actually need?
MID-YEAR SALES show
Luke combs leading the way
T
he changing face of how we consume music is
highlighted in Nielsen’s mid-year sales report that
shows how dominant Luke Combs has been this year,
topping the downloads and streams by some margin.
With an ‘overall equivalent album units’ of 605,000,
Combs’ This One’s For You is way ahead of Dan+Shay
in second place with 387,000.
However, when it comes to ‘traditional’ (physical)
album sales it is George Strait who is top with his
Honky Tonk Time Machine album shifting 113,000 units
ahead of Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour with 97,000.
Luke Combs is in third place on 91,000.
AUGUST 2019 - cmp 5