'I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us,' the country-turned-pop superstar tweets after Apple announced the change.
- Jun 23, 2015
AceShowbiz - Apple will now pay royalties during the 3-month free trial of their Apple Music, thanks in large part to Taylor Swift. Less than 24 hours after she criticized them in an open letter posted on her Tumblr over the weekend, the tech giant responded by deciding to change its policy.
"We hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple," Apple's Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue wrote while making the announcement via Twitter on Sunday night, June 21. "Apple will always make sure that artist are paid," he added.
We hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015
#AppleMusic will pay artist for streaming, even during customer���������¢�����¯�����¿�����½�����¯�����¿�����½s free trial period
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cue has personally called Swift who's in Amsterdam for her ongoing "1989" tour to let her know about the change. The 25-year-old superstar then took to Twitter to express her excitement, saying, "I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us."
I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us.
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 22, 2015Apple Music is launching on June 30. In her open letter, titled "To Apple, Love Taylor", Swift said that she found Apple's plan not to pay artists during the 3-month trial "shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company."
"This is not about me," she continued. "Thankfully I am on my fifth album and can support myself, my band, crew and entire management team by playing live shows. This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will be not be paid for its success."
"This is about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt. This is about the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field ... but will not get paid for a quarter of a year's worth of plays on his or her songs," she added.
