Less than a day after Taylor Swift criticised the company for not paying royalties during the three months free trial period of its upcoming Apple Music service, Apple has decided to reverse the decision and will pay royalties during those three months.
Eddy Cue, the Senior VP of Internet Software and Services, tweeted the news of the backflip, saying that they love Taylor Swift and indie musicians.
Apple will always make sure that artist are paid #iTunes #AppleMusic
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015
#AppleMusic will pay artist for streaming, even during customer’s free trial period
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015
We hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015
While Apple will give at least 70 percent of its subscription revenue to music labels, the previous plan was going to see Apple not paying any royalties during the three months trial period. It would have compensated the labels with the future payouts, which apparently are a few percentage higher than the industry standard.
“These are not the complaints of a spoiled, petulant child. These are the echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much. We simply do not respect this particular call,” Taylor Swift wrote.
“Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing.”
Artists applaud Swift over letter
While some people have been critical about Taylor Swift’s position regarding Apple Music, many musicians have praised Swift over publicly calling out Apple over the royalties issue.
T Swift sticking up for the working class artists who aren't selling out arenas. Thank you, @taylorswift13. https://t.co/3m1Xv0GXff
— Matthew Mayfield (@MatthewMayfield) June 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/dfarecords/status/612723497484185600
Some very valid points made by @taylorswift13 regarding @AppleMusic @iTunes new streaming service. http://t.co/2AiQbT8A3J
— Defected Records (@DefectedRecords) June 21, 2015
For THIS and this alone I now OFFICIALLY ENDORSE TAYLOR SWIFT. She does NOT have to do this but bravo!!! http://t.co/vBN86hRrpd
— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) June 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/paulsidoti/status/612581003652169728
@taylorswift13 A word from our future President. Right on. You tell ’em, Girl. E.C. http://t.co/qnNh2WTJiX …
— Elvis Costello (@ElvisCostello) June 22, 2015
powerful and important RT @taylorswift13: To Apple, Love Taylor http://t.co/K1RcsolqXC
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) June 21, 2015
thank you @taylorswift13 http://t.co/V6M3JCPiy5
— Sophie & The BomBoms (@sophieandthebbs) June 21, 2015
We cannot thank you enough for saying what so many of us do not have the power to say. @taylorswift13 http://t.co/4DrZBMtJKp
— Como Brothers Band (@ComoBrosBand) June 21, 2015
this is so amazing. thank you for writing this, @taylorswift13 💗 https://t.co/j6bY7pGhMZ
— christina perri (@christinaperri) June 21, 2015