Taylor Swift has taken to social media to share news about a new release from her former record label, Big Machine, after her fans apparently made her aware of the forthcoming “album”.
“I’m always honest with you guys about this stuff,” she writes to her fans, “so I just wanted to tell you that this release is not approved by me.”
According to Swift’s post, the material is actually a recording from a 2008 radio show, performed when she was 18. “It looks to me like Scooter Braun and his financial backers (...) have seen the latest balance sheets and realized that paying $330 million for my music wasn’t exactly a wise choice and they need money,” she continues.
“In my opinion… just another case of shameless greed in the time of coronavirus. So tasteless, but very transparent.”
This isn’t the first time Swift has been locked in a dispute with Braun and Big Machine, though. In 2019 she claimed: “Scooter has stripped me of my life’s work,” after Braun bought her master recordings. She was reportedly given no opportunity to buy them herself.
Subsequently, she has said that she plans to re-record her old music to regain control, but has even hit roadblocks when it comes to playing songs live. Read Dazed’s explainer for a more in-depth look at the ordeal, and view Swift’s statement on the new release below.
