Taylor Swift drops 7 major updates on Reputation and music masters; paid jaw-dropping amount

Taylor Swift just bought back the rights to her first six albums

“To say this is my greatest dream come true is actually being pretty reserved about it,” Swift said in a letter posted on her Instagram handle. Thanking the first company that chose to play it fair and extended Swift’s team an offer to buy her masters, she added, “All I’ve ever wanted was the opportunity to work hard enough to be able one day to purchase my music outright — with no strings attached, no partnership, with full autonomy. I will be forever grateful to everyone at Shamrock Capital for being the first people to ever offer this to me.” Owning your masters means you fully control your music — how it’s used, where it’s played, and how much money you earn from it. Earlier, the pop star had to seek permission to use those songs or even sample them in her new music without permission from whoever owned those masters.

What about the “Taylor’s Version” albums?

Taylor started re-recording her old albums a few years ago after nearly giving up hope of repurchasing the masters. She created new versions of the same songs, which she has 100 percent control over. However, the singer added that this recent move won’t stop her from releasing more of Taylor’s Version, and she plans to re-release her Reputation album and her first debut album the same way. You’ll see two versions of her early albums in the market.

Also read: Taylor Swift exits court drama as Justin Baldoni unexpectedly backs out; Blake Lively cheers end of ‘harassing’ subpoena

When is Rep TV coming?

The 14-time Grammy winner has already released several Taylor’s Versions, but the last two albums,  “Reputation” and her debut self-titled album, haven’t come out yet. “I know, I know. What about Rep TV?” Swift wrote in her letter. “Full transparency: I haven’t even re-recorded a quarter of it. The Reputation album was so specific to that time in my life, and I kept hitting a stopping point when I tried to remake it,” she added. Swift listed all the intense feelings that came with that album: rebellion, the feeling of wanting people to truly get her, but also feeling like they never really did, hope, embarrassment and boldness, all those factors that shaped that era.

Taylor Swift admits Reputation will remain raw

While penning her emotions, Swift made it clear that out of all her previous six albums, she feels Reputation is the one that never needed a redo, and thus, the wait. Not the songs, not the photos, not even the music videos. Everything about it felt complete to her. Because of that, she kept delaying the re-recording. “ There will be a time (if you’re into the idea) for the unreleased vault tracks from that album to hatch,” she wrote. So, even though Taylor hasn’t dropped Reputation, she is definitely working on it.  Back in August 2023, a sneak peek of her re-recorded version of “Look What You Made Me Do” debuted in the show Wilderness and then again in Apple TV+’s docuseries The Dynasty: New England Patriots. Recently, it also made its way into The Handmaid’s Tale

Swift has re-recorded her debut album

While fans might be a little disappointed about the Reputation delay, Swift revealed she’s already fully re-recorded her first-ever album, her debut, and she’s happy with how it sounds now. “Those two albums can still have their moments to re-emerge when the time is right, if that would be something you guys would be excited about. But if it happens, it won’t be from a place of sadness and longing for what I wish I could have. It will just be a celebration now.” Taylor’s whole re-recording journey started in 2019, when Scooter Braun bought the rights to all her old music from her former label, Big Machine Records. 

Taylor Swift subtly confirms no Tattoo

Fans have long wondered if Swift ever got a tattoo, and she cleverly dropped the answer in her handwritten note when she said, “My first tattoo just might be a huge shamrock in the middle of my forehead,” giving a shoutout to the music company.

Taylor Swift purchases her ‘masters’ for an eye-dropping amount

Though the exact amount of money was not disclosed, Swift did say that she acquired those for an exceptionally fair amount. According to Billboard sources (Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, and Reputation), Swift’s deal for the six albums was around $360 million, which is pretty close to what the private equity firm paid for them in 2020.