Like it or not, Taylor Swift may have just proved herself to be the most powerful woman in the music industry. Less than a day after she issued an eloquent criticism of Apple for not paying musicians during the free three-month trial of their new streaming service, the company has reversed its decision.

Besides basically BFF-ing every one of her social media followers and even paying their student loan debts, Swift recently minted herself as a crusader for the little guys and gals in the music industry, taking a stand against the one company no artist takes a stand against.

Swift took to her personal Tumblr channel to issue an explanation for why fans won’t be able to stream her latest album, the wildly successful 1989, on Apple’s recently unveiled streaming service, Apple Music.

“I feel this deserves an explanation because Apple has been and will continue to be one of my best partners in selling music and creating ways for me to connect with my fans. I respect the company and the truly ingenious minds that have created a legacy based on innovation and pushing the right boundaries,” she writes.

It’s not the first time Swift had engaged in battle with a streaming service. She previously pulled her music from Spotify in the lead up to the release of 1989 and back in July 2014, she penned a lengthy essay about fair compensation for musicians published in the Wall Street Journal.

“I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service,” Swift wrote in her latest missive. “I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months.”

“I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company,” she continued. “This is not about me. Thankfully I am on my fifth album and can support myself, my band, crew, and entire management team by playing live shows.”

“This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success. This is about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt.”

“This is about the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field…but will not get paid for a quarter of a year’s worth of plays on his or her songs.”

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Independent label coalitions around the world have been coming out to criticise Apple’s controversial, royalty-free trial period, including the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR). In a statement, AIR claimed they have advised Australian labels not to sign on with Apple Music.

“These are not the complaints of a spoiled, petulant child,” Swift clarified. “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.”

Swift went on to insist that Apple “has the money to pay artists, writers, and producers for the 3 month trial period”. Indeed, as Music Business Worldwide recently noted, industry analysts predict Apple’s trial to be worth a whopping US$4.4 billion in customer acquisition costs.

“But I say to Apple with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this,” Swift concludes. “We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.”

Well, it seems Swift’s plea did not fall on deaf ears. Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet software and services took to Twitter earlier today to announce that Apple Music “will pay artist for streaming, even during customer’s free trial period”.

“We hear you [Taylor Swift] and indie artists. Love, Apple,” Cue added. Clearly, when Taylor Swift tells you you messed up, you better listen. No wonder Forbes included her in their 2014 list of the most powerful women on the planet.

Of course, it’s important to remember that in addition to Swift, Apple have been receiving widespread backlash from the music industry over their royalty-free trial period, particularly from independent labels, many of whom announced their refusal to sign on with the service.

To Apple, Love Taylor

I write this to explain why I’ll be holding back my album, 1989, from the new streaming service, Apple Music. I feel this deserves an explanation because Apple has been and will continue to be one of my best partners in selling music and creating ways for me to connect with my fans. I respect the company and the truly ingenious minds that have created a legacy based on innovation and pushing the right boundaries.

I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.

This is not about me. Thankfully I am on my fifth album and can support myself, my band, crew, and entire management team by playing live shows. This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success. This is about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt. This is about the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field…but will not get paid for a quarter of a year’s worth of plays on his or her songs.

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.

I realize that Apple is working towards a goal of paid streaming. I think that is beautiful progress. We know how astronomically successful Apple has been and we know that this incredible company has the money to pay artists, writers and producers for the 3 month trial period… even if it is free for the fans trying it out.

Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing. I say this with love, reverence, and admiration for everything else Apple has done. I hope that soon I can join them in the progression towards a streaming model that seems fair to those who create this music. I think this could be the platform that gets it right.

But I say to Apple with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.

Taylor

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