Taylor Swift has officially bought back her master recordings in a landmark deal worth a reported $360 million. The singer-songwriter confirmed on Friday that she acquired the rights to her first six albums from private equity firm Shamrock Capital. She celebrated the emotional moment with her longtime collaborator, Jack Antonoff, in a candid video showing them singing and dancing in a kitchen, a moment that quickly went viral among her dedicated fanbase.
A Victory Lap in the Kitchen
The celebration was perfectly on-brand for Swift: personal, musical, and shared with a close friend. A video posted by Jack Antonoff showed the pair joyfully singing “Getaway Car,” a fan-favorite track from the 2017 album Reputation. Even Swift’s famously private cat, Meredith, made an appearance in her arms.
Antonoff’s caption, “Rep forever guilt free listening!” captured the weight of the moment. For years, fans have been conflicted about streaming the original versions of her first six albums. This celebration signals a new era where Swift, and by extension her fans, can enjoy her entire catalog without reservation.
In a heartfelt note on her website, Swift shared her feelings, writing, “All of the music I’ve ever made … now belongs… to me.” The message was raw and unfiltered, reflecting a long and difficult journey to reclaim her life’s work.
The $360 Million Price of Principle
According to industry sources, the deal to purchase the masters from Shamrock Capital came with a massive price tag of approximately $360 million. This is a similar figure to what Shamrock paid music manager Scooter Braun for the catalog back in 2020.
For Swift, who recently achieved billionaire status, the purchase was about more than just a financial transaction. It was a matter of principle and artistic ownership. She has been vocal about her desire to own her work since Braun’s company acquired her former label, Big Machine Records, in 2019, a move she said blindsided her and “stripped me of my life’s work.”
This purchase marks the end of a very public and often contentious saga, turning a professional struggle into a personal triumph.
The Journey of the Masters
The path for Swift to regain control of her music has been complex. The ownership of her first six albums has changed hands multiple times over the last few years, becoming one of the most high-profile rights disputes in modern music history.
Here is a simplified timeline of how the ownership evolved:
| Year | Owner | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Scooter Braun | Acquired Big Machine Records, gaining the rights to Swift’s first six albums. |
| 2020 | Shamrock Capital | Bought the master recordings from Braun for an estimated $300 million. |
| 2025 | Taylor Swift | Bought her masters back for approximately $360 million. |
In response to the initial sale, Swift announced her ambitious project to re-record all six albums, allowing her to create new master recordings that she would own completely. This project has already been a massive success.
What’s Next for the Re-recordings?
With Swift now owning the original masters, many fans wonder what will happen to her re-recording project, known as “Taylor’s Versions.” The project has so far produced new versions of these four albums:
- Fearless (Taylor’s Version)
- Red (Taylor’s Version)
- Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
- 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
Fans have been eagerly awaiting Reputation (Taylor’s Version), but Swift revealed that she had been putting it off. She explained that she felt the original album was one that “couldn’t be improved upon by redoing it.” However, she did confirm exciting news for another album. Swift announced that her self-titled debut album from 2006, Taylor Swift, has already been fully re-recorded. No release date has been set.
Fans Celebrate a Long-Awaited Win
The news of the purchase, combined with the celebratory video, sent social media into a frenzy. The Swiftie community erupted with joy and emotion, viewing the moment as a shared victory.
Comments like “I AM SOBBING SO HARD RN” and “This has such a different meaning now” flooded platforms within minutes. For a fanbase that has followed every twist and turn of this ownership battle, the resolution was deeply meaningful. The kitchen jam session wasn’t just a video; it was a symbol of freedom and vindication that resonated with millions of her followers worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Taylor Swift pay to buy her masters?
Taylor Swift reportedly paid around $360 million to buy her master recordings back from Shamrock Capital. This deal gives her complete ownership of her first six studio albums.
Who owned Taylor Swift’s masters before she bought them?
Before Taylor Swift, the masters were owned by a private equity firm named Shamrock Capital. They had purchased the catalog from Scooter Braun in 2020, who had originally acquired them in 2019 when he bought Big Machine Records.
Will Taylor Swift still release Reputation (Taylor’s Version)?
While she now owns the original masters, the future of the re-recordings is still unfolding. Swift mentioned she has been hesitant to re-record Reputation but confirmed that her debut album, Taylor Swift, has been fully re-recorded, though a release date is unknown.
Why did Taylor Swift re-record her albums?
Taylor Swift began re-recording her first six albums to create new versions that she would own and control herself. This project was her response to her original master recordings being sold to Scooter Braun without her having a chance to purchase them first.
