Taylor Swift Just Told One Of The Biggest Companies In The World How To Run A Business - And They Listened

June 24, 2015

On Sunday, Taylor Swift wrote an open letter to Apple explaining why her latest album, 1989, would not appear on Apple Music when it debuts on June 30. And they listened.

taylor swift apple news
Photo: Rex Features

Swift wrote of the decision by Apple to not pay artists during the three-month free trial period:

"I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company. This is not about me. 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 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. Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing.

But I say to Apple with all due respect, it's not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don't ask you for free iPhones. Please don't ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation."

Apple senior executive Eddy Cue announced on Twitter that Apple Music will pay artists during the service's free, three-month trial period. The reversal of policy comes one day after Swift's open letter.

Swift unselfishly stood up to one of the largest companies on the planet and made a difference. "I am elated and relieved," Swift wrote on Twitter after the news broke. "Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us."