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Home / Entertainment

Taylor Swift, Scooter Braun feud ramps up as texts leak and stars take sides

BANG! Showbiz
1 Jul, 2019 07:43 PM6 mins to read

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Taylor Swift has reignited a massive feud in the music industry. Photo / Getty Images

Taylor Swift has reignited a massive feud in the music industry. Photo / Getty Images

Taylor Swift's former record label boss insists she had "every chance in the world" to own all her assets, including her master tapes.

The ME! hitmaker signed a contract with Scott Borchetta's Big Machine Records when she was first starting out in the music industry but she recently claimed she was devastated that the label has been sold to Scooter Braun and she was never given the choice to buy her back catalogue and only offered the chance to "earn" it back, one album at a time.

However, the executive has now hit back and insisted that wasn't the case.

He posted on the label blog: "100% of all Taylor Swift assets were to be transferred to her immediately upon signing the new agreement. We were working together on a new type of deal for our new streaming world that was not necessarily tied to 'albums' but more of a length of time...

"Taylor had every chance in the world to own not just her master recordings, but every video, photograph, everything associated to her career. She chose to leave."

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Scott - who shared texts between himself and the Bad Blood singer to prove they had stayed on "good terms" when she rejected his deal - also claimed he was baffled by Taylor's comments about Scooter, insisting she had always known they were friends and the manager had been a great source of support to them.

He continued: "As to her comments about 'being in tears or close to it' anytime my new partner Scooter Braun's name was brought up, I certainly never experienced that. Was I aware of some prior issues between Taylor and Justin Bieber? Yes.

"But there were also times where Taylor knew that I was close to Scooter and that Scooter was a very good source of information for upcoming album releases, tours, etc, and I'd reach out to him for information on our behalf. "

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He also claimed the 29-year-old star had rejected requests to participate in charitable events Scooter was helping to organise, such as Ariana Grande's One Love Manchester in the wake of the terrorist attack at her British concert and the March for Our Lives anti-gun violence demonstration.

View this post on Instagram

So, it’s time for some truth... In regard to a post earlier today from Taylor, it’s time to set some things straight. Click the link in my bio.

A post shared by Scott Borchetta (@scott.borchetta) on Jun 30, 2019 at 6:31pm PDT

He wrote: "Scooter was never anything but positive about Taylor. He called me directly about Manchester to see if Taylor would participate (she declined).

"He called me directly to see if Taylor wanted to participate in the Parkland March (she declined). Scooter has always been and will continue to be a supporter and honest custodian for Taylor and her music."

In her original blog post, Taylor claimed she had only learned about the deal with Scooter when it was made public, but her former boss has suggested that likely wasn't the case as her dad, who is also called Scott, was one of the company's shareholders, so he had been aware of negotiations for at least five days.

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He wrote: "Out of courtesy, I personally texted Taylor at 9:06pm, Saturday, June 29th to inform her prior to the story breaking on the morning of Sunday, June 30th so she could hear it directly from me.

View this post on Instagram

Genuinely grateful for my new partner @scott.borchetta and the entire @bigmachinelabelgroup team. We together at Ithaca are going to do amazing things and our hope is to give every artist the tools they need to succeed in all arenas. Thank you again for the trust Scott. Let’s get it!

A post shared by Scooter Braun (@scooterbraun) on Jun 30, 2019 at 8:09am PDT

"I guess it might somehow be possible that her dad Scott, 13 Management lawyer Jay Schaudies (who represented Scott Swift on the shareholder calls) or 13 Management executive and Big Machine LLC shareholder Frank Bell (who was on the shareholder calls) didn't say anything to Taylor over the prior 5 days. I guess it's possible that she might not have seen my text. But, I truly doubt that she 'woke up to the news when everyone else did'."

The Blank Space singer previously admitted she was "sad and grossed out" by the situation.

She wrote: "Thankfully, I am now signed to a label that believes I should own anything I create. Thankfully, I left my past in Scott's hands and not my future. And hopefully, young artists or kids with musical dreams will read this and learn about how to better protect themselves in a negotiation. You deserve to own the art you make. I will always be proud of my past work. But for a healthier option, Lover will be out August 23. Sad and grossed out, Taylor (sic)"

Scooter Braun's wife Yael has called out the singer with an Instagram post of her own, accusing Swift of throwing an "embarrassing temper tantrum" because she "didn't get her own way."

View this post on Instagram

@taylorswift, I’m here to talk privately anytime.

A post shared by Yael Cohen Braun (@yael) on Jun 30, 2019 at 3:53pm PDT

However various artists have come to Taylor's defense, taking to social media to post messages of support.

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🦋 @taylorswift13 pic.twitter.com/1iI2tCr8my

— h (@halsey) June 30, 2019

For those asking, I left Scooter Braun a long time ago...I am saddened by this news, but not shocked. He is an evil person who’s only concern is his wealth and feeding his disgusting ego. I believe he is homophobic & I know from his own mouth that he is not a Swift fan.

— Todrick Hall (@todrick) June 30, 2019

feeling for @taylorswift13 rn. we know where the music came from regardless of who owns it now. i can’t wait to see her rise above with “Lover” let’s goooooo Taylor 💞

— Cyn (@cynthialovely) June 30, 2019

My heart goes out to @taylorswift13 ❤️ over the sale of her masters. You got this! You got a million more hits in you:)

— AdELA (@adelamusic) June 30, 2019

-Bang! Showbiz

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