Have you noticed that one of Taylor Swift’s hit singles from over 12 years ago is being played widely again in 2021?  That is because Swift recently released the re-recorded version of her 2008 hit single “Love Story” and is currently in the process of recording new versions of her first six albums.

She announced that the new version of her most popular album “Fearless” will be out on April 9.  This announcement had Swifties everywhere getting excited and hypothesizing about Taylor’s intentions for her new music.

“I am very excited because I feel like she may take a different approach on a few of the songs and make them more about who she is now, rather than who she was back then,” said Brianna Reis ‘21.

Swift’s primary motive for spending the time, energy, and money to record new versions of her old songs is to regain control of the masters to her music that are currently controlled by her old record label, Big Machine Records.  Once Swift re-records and owns the master rights and publishing rights to her songs, she will earn all of the revenue they bring in and control how they are used.

Swift’s plan to re-record is a win-win scenario.  She will finally gain control of her music and devoted Swift fans can look forward to the release of her “new old songs,” reliving those memories of the first time they were released.

Swift will definitely gain recognition and public support for her dominant decision to reclaim her well-earned success from these old songs.

“She’ll be eligible for awards again for these albums,” said Nancy Mabry ‘21.

For the majority of her career, Swift had a contract with Big Machine Records.  Her music catalog recorded with this label was recently sold to Ithaca Holdings, a company owned by Scooter Braun who manages the music of stars such as Justin Bieber, Arianna Grande, Kanye West, and more.  Braun’s company recently sold her work to Shamrock Capital and gained an estimated $300 million from it.

Swift has been discussing her plan to re-record her old music for over a year now in hopes to get back at Braun who she claimed “bullied her” and to regain control of her own music.  She can legally do so for two reasons.

According to Dina LaPolt, an entertainment attorney, Swift owns the publishing rights to her first six albums (despite the fact that Shamrock Capital now owns the master rights).  Also, the “re-recording restriction” in her contract with Big Machine reportedly expired in November 2020.

Swift fans should get excited for the re-release of old hits that they enjoyed for the first time over a decade ago!