Taylor Swift Takes Back Rights to Her 1st Original Six Albums

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Taylor Swift Takes Back Rights to Her 1st Original Six Albums/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Taylor Swift has officially regained ownership of her original music catalog. She bought back her first six albums from Shamrock Capital, ending years of legal and creative struggle. The announcement marks a major milestone in her fight for artist rights.

FILE – Taylor Swift performs at the Monumental stadium during her Eras Tour concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)

Taylor Swift Catalog Victory: Quick Looks

Swift buys back her first six albums from Shamrock Capital
Full ownership now returned to the pop superstar
Catalog includes hits from her Big Machine era (2006–2017)
Deal ends dispute triggered by Scooter Braun’s 2019 acquisition
Swift shared the news in a heartfelt note on her website
Shamrock Capital expressed support and congratulated Swift
Four re-recorded “Taylor’s Versions” have already been released
“Reputation” and debut album re-recordings expected next
Reclaiming catalog part of her broader artistic mission
Announcement follows her success with “The Tortured Poets Department”

FILE – Taylor Swift performs at the Monumental stadium during her Eras Tour concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Nov. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)

Deep Look: Taylor Swift Reclaims Ownership of Her First Six Albums

NEW YORK — In a defining move in music industry history, Taylor Swift has reclaimed full control over her music by purchasing the rights to her first six studio albums. Swift revealed the monumental achievement in a note posted on her official website Friday, stating:

“All of the music I’ve ever made now belongs to me.”

The buyback from Shamrock Capital, the private equity firm that most recently held her Big Machine Records catalog, brings an end to a saga that began in 2019 when Scooter Braun controversially acquired the rights. While the purchase price was not disclosed, Swift’s tone was one of triumph and resolution. Shamrock, for its part, issued a gracious statement:

“We are thrilled with this outcome and are so happy for Taylor.”

From Conflict to Control

The journey began when Braun’s company bought Big Machine Records, including the master recordings to Swift’s first six albums — a move that the artist publicly condemned. Feeling silenced and disempowered, Swift embarked on a mission to re-record those albums, giving fans new, artist-owned versions under the “Taylor’s Version” branding.

Her strategy was revolutionary: instead of fighting Braun legally over licensing, she re-created her original albums and repackaged them with vault tracks, new artwork, and fan Easter eggs. Each re-release has topped charts and drawn acclaim for its creative depth and production quality.

Four Albums Down, Two More to Go

To date, four “Taylor’s Version” albums have been released:

Fearless (Taylor’s Version)
Red (Taylor’s Version)
Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
1989 (Taylor’s Version)

Her 2023 release of 1989 (TV) made Swift the female artist with the most No. 1 albums in Billboard history. Though fans have speculated that Reputation (Taylor’s Version) would be next — particularly after hearing “Look What You Made Me Do” in The Handmaid’s Tale — Swift shared that the re-recording process is far from over.

“I haven’t even re-recorded a quarter of it,” Swift admitted, adding that she has completed her self-titled debut album and is pleased with how it sounds.

A Strategic Artistic Win

The acquisition of her original catalog solidifies Swift’s place not only as a global pop icon but also as a champion for artist rights. Her multi-year battle has raised awareness about music ownership, creative control, and the influence of private equity in the arts.

In the years since the initial dispute, Swift has also released new, original works — most recently The Tortured Poets Department, which dropped during her ongoing record-breaking Eras Tour.