After years of effort, Taylor Swift has officially purchased the masters for her first six albums, including her self-titled debut and Reputation. She announced the news on May 30, 2025, sharing her excitement with fans on social media and in an open letter on her website.
“I’ve been bursting into tears of joy at random intervals ever since I found out that this is really happening,” Swift wrote. “All of the music I’ve ever made… now belongs… to me. And all my music videos. All the concert films. The album art and photography. The unreleased songs. The memories. The magic. The madness. Every single era. My entire life’s work.”
She also thanked her team for their support:
“Thanks to you and your goodwill, teamwork and encouragement, the best things that have ever been mine… finally actually are.”
How Much Did Taylor Swift Pay for Her Masters?
According to Billboard, Swift spent about $360 million to reclaim the masters for her first six albums. This figure is supported by reports from The Economic Times, which also say the purchase price exceeded $300 million.
While that’s an enormous sum for most people, it’s a fraction of the wealth of the global pop superstar.
Who Did Taylor Swift Buy Her Masters From?
Taylor Swift bought the masters from Shamrock Capital, an investment firm that acquired the rights from Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings in late 2020.
Scooter Braun originally purchased the masters from Big Machine Records in 2019.
Why Did Shamrock Capital Own Taylor Swift’s Masters?
Shamrock Capital bought the masters from Braun’s Ithaca Holdings for $405 million in 2020. Swift was not informed about this sale ahead of time.
She declined an equity partnership with Shamrock because Braun would still profit from her music under that deal.
Taylor Swift’s Response: Re-Recording Her Albums
In response, Taylor Swift decided to re-record her old albums to regain control over her music. She has since released re-recorded versions of Speak Now, Red, 1989, and Fearless.