Celebrating a New Chapter: Taylor Swift Reclaims Ownership of Her Music

Following the recent announcement that Taylor Swift has regained full rights to her song catalog, the pop icon is marking this milestone with a nostalgic and playful tribute alongside Jack Antonoff. Her celebration underscores her journey toward artistic independence and control over her work.

In a move that has garnered widespread attention, Swift sold the master rights to her early recordings after a contentious sale by Scooter Braun in 2019. This decision has been a significant turning point in her career, allowing her to reassert ownership over her creative legacy. To commemorate this achievement, Antonoff shared a fresh, lighthearted clip on Friday, May 30, that revisits a beloved moment from their collaboration.

The video features Swift, now 35, and Antonoff, 41, recreating their viral performance of “Getaway Car,” a track from Swift’s 2017 album Reputation. The duo humorously reenacted the scene, singing the song’s lyrics and celebrating with Swift’s feline companion, Meredith. Antonoff captioned the clip, “Enjoy guilt-free listening-no regrets in sight!” highlighting the significance of her newfound ownership.

Swift and Antonoff’s collaboration on “Getaway Car” was a defining moment, with the song featured on her 2017 album Reputation. Their creative synergy was famously captured in her 2020 documentary, Miss Americana, where they quickly composed the song’s bridge-an impromptu moment that was recorded on Swift’s iPhone and quickly went viral on TikTok, resonating with fans worldwide.

Antonoff reflected on this viral experience during an interview with NBC News’ Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist in October 2023. He described it as one of the most memorable moments of his career, emphasizing the spontaneity and magic of that instant creation.

“That was probably the most incredible time in my life-being in the studio, feeling the energy, and having that moment of pure creativity captured on her phone,” Antonoff shared. “It’s rare to experience such authenticity, and I’m grateful that her phone was on that day. It was a truly special moment I’ll never forget.”

Swift added, “That moment truly encapsulated the thrill of creation-an experience I cherish deeply. It’s a testament to the spontaneous magic that can happen when artists are in sync. I’ve had many incredible moments in the studio, but that one stands out as particularly special.”

Earlier on May 30, Swift announced that she had purchased the rights to her entire song catalog from Shamrock Capital, a move that signifies her reclaiming her artistic ownership. Braun had previously transferred the rights to this catalog after acquiring it from Big Machine Records, a decision that had sparked controversy and disappointment for Swift.

In a heartfelt statement, Swift expressed her relief and joy: “I almost thought this day would never come, after two decades of being promised ownership that was always just out of reach. But now, everything has changed. I can finally say-every song I’ve ever created now belongs entirely to me.”

She emphasized that her ownership is now comprehensive, including all her recordings, music videos, concert footage, album artwork, and unreleased tracks-preserving the memories, magic, and madness of her career. This move marks a significant milestone in her ongoing fight for artistic control.

Swift’s journey to regain her masters began when Big Machine sold her early albums to Braun in 2019, a decision she publicly opposed. Since then, she has embarked on a project to re-record her earlier works, releasing “Taylor’s Version” of albums like Fearless, Reputation, Red, and 1989. Notably, her re-recordings of Fearless and Red have been met with critical acclaim and commercial success, reaffirming her artistic independence.

With her recent acquisition, Swift has taken a definitive step toward full ownership, ensuring her creative control for the future. Her story continues to inspire artists worldwide, highlighting the importance of rights and ownership in the music industry.