In recent times, Taylor Swift has emerged as a prominent artist, with a significant part of her success attributed to the re-recordings of her early albums.
The genesis of this idea can be traced back to Kelly Clarkson, and here's the tale of how it all unfolded.
It's essential to acknowledge that the artist behind "Stronger" found herself embroiled in a contentious battle over the rights to the masters of her initial albums.
Taylor Swift's Legal Battle over Her Music
At the onset of her career, Swift inked a deal with the Big Machine record label, entitling them to the rights of her first six albums. Swift consistently sought to reclaim control over her music from her teenage years, but her requests were repeatedly denied.
In 2019, reports circulated widely that the label had been acquired by Ithaca Holdings, a company owned by Scooter Braun, the manager of Justin Bieber. This development left Swift disheartened, given the substantial financial gains made from her creations, while all she desired was to regain control.
Kelly Clarkson's Ingenious Solution for Taylor Swift
Amid Swift's expressed disappointment over not owning her creations, Kelly Clarkson offered her a groundbreaking solution to navigate this challenge.
"Taylor, one suggestion: re-record all the songs whose masters you don't own, just the way you did them initially. Add a unique touch to the album so your fans are inclined to choose the new versions over the old ones. I'd personally buy the new versions to validate my point," Clarkson advised in a social media post.
By re-recording her songs, Swift prevents her fans from accessing the original versions, thereby disrupting the flow of royalties to those who possess the masters. To distinguish these revamped tracks, Swift appends the phrase "Taylor’s Version" to each.
A delightful aspect of this story is Swift's gesture of sending flowers to Kelly Clarkson every time she releases a new re-recording, expressing gratitude for the inspiration that ignited this creative endeavor.
