Taylor Swift's Record Label: Everything You Need to Know About Her Music Rights History
Taylor Swift is currently signed with Republic Records, a division of Universal Music Group, after leaving her longtime label Big Machine Records in 2018. She signed with Republic Records in November 2018, securing ownership of all her future master recordings as part of the deal.
Swift's label history is notable in the music industry. She began her career with Big Machine Records in 2005 at age 15, where she released her first six studio albums: "Taylor Swift," "Fearless," "Speak Now," "Red," "1989," and "Reputation."
The switch to Republic Records marked a significant moment in Swift's career. Under her new contract, she gained full control over her master recordings for all new music created after the deal. This includes hit albums like "Lover," "Folklore," "Evermore," and "Midnights."
The move to Republic Records came after a well-publicized dispute over the ownership of her master recordings from her Big Machine catalog. These masters were later sold to Scooter Braun's company, leading Swift to announce her intention to re-record her first six albums. She has since released "Fearless (Taylor's Version)" and "Red (Taylor's Version)" under Republic Records.
Republic Records, founded in 1995, is one of the most successful record labels in the industry. It's home to many major artists and is headquartered in New York City. The label operates as a division of Universal Music Group, one of the "Big Three" record labels globally.
Swift's current deal with Republic Records provides her with greater artistic control and ownership rights than her previous contract. This arrangement has allowed her to maintain creative freedom while retaining the rights to her new music, setting a precedent for artist empowerment in the music industry.