Taylor Swift can officially perform her old songs at the 2019 American Music Awards, according to a joint statement from Big Machine Label Group and Dick Clark Productions.
The statement, obtained by USA TODAY, comes after a days-long public battle between Swift and Big Machine, the record label that now owns Swift’s catalog of music preceding her latest album “Lover,” which was released under her new label, Universal Music Group.
“The Big Machine Label Group and Dick Clark Productions announce that they have come to terms on a licensing agreement that approves their artists’ performances to stream post show and for re-broadcast on mutually approved platforms,” the statement reads. “This includes the upcoming American Music Awards performances for Thomas Rhett and former Big Machine Records recording artist Taylor Swift.
“It should be noted that recording artists do not need label approval for live performances on television or any other live media,” the statement says. “Record label approval is only needed for contracted artists’ audio and visual recordings and in determining how those works are distributed.”
Taylor Swift hits back at Big Machine after label denied her claim she is blocked from performing old songs
The drama began Thursday when Swift took to Twitter, claiming Big Machine gave her a demanding set of conditions to meet if she wants to play a medley of her old hits at the American Music Awards show on Nov. 24, where she’s being presented with the artist of the decade award.
Swift says Scott Borchetta and music tycoon Scooter Braun, who purchased her extensive back catalog in June, are blocking her from performing her old songs on television because “they claim that would be re-recording my music before I’m allowed to next year.”
Big Machine responded in a statement to USA TODAY, saying it was “shocked” to see Swift’s statements “based on false information.”
“At no point did we say Taylor could not perform on the AMAs or block her Netflix special. In fact, we do not have the right to keep her from performing live anywhere,” the statement read.
“Since Taylor’s decision to leave Big Machine last fall, we have continued to honor all of her requests to license her catalog to third parties as she promotes her current record in which we do not financially participate.”
Later, Swift’s spokeswoman, Tree Paine, shared an updated statement with USA TODAY, insisting that Borchetta and Big Machine “flatly denied the request for both American Music Awards and Netflix.”
Taylor Swift’s fight with Big Machine is getting support from Elizabeth Warren, AOC and Cher
Celebrities and politicians weighed in on ongoing drama over the weekend.
“Unfortunately, @TaylorSwift13 is one of many whose work has been threatened by a private equity firm,” Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren tweeted. “They’re gobbling up more and more of our economy, costing jobs and crushing entire industries. It’s time to rein in private equity firms — and I’ve got a plan for that.”
Selena Gomez, a self-described best friend to Swift, also commented in a lengthy post to her Instagram story, saying her heart is “so heavy right now.”
“It makes me sick and extremely angry,” she wrote.”…It’s greed, manipulation and power. You’ve robbed and crushed one of our best song writers of our time an opportunity to celebrate all of her music with fans and the world.”
Taylor Swift’s attorney says the singer never had the chance to buy her catalog ‘outright’
Contributing: Andrea Mandell, Sara Moniuszko
