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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Yes—in May 2025, Taylor Swift announced that she bought the master recordings of her first six albums from Shamrock Capital. In her letter, she also said her music videos, concert films, album art, photography, and unreleased songs belonged to her. The shorthand “she owns all her music” needs one qualification: the deal concerned her existing recordings and the additional assets she named, not every possible music-related right or future work.
What did Taylor Swift buy?
Swift’s first six studio albums were released through Big Machine Records. The masters changed hands after Big Machine was acquired in 2019 by a group led by Scooter Braun; they were sold to Shamrock Capital in 2020. Swift announced on May 30, 2025, that she had bought the recordings from Shamrock. The albums span her 2006 self-titled debut through 2017’s Reputation. The Associated Press reported the sale and its scope; Reuters also confirmed the transaction.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![1989 (Taylor's Version)[2 LP]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41bwpFCj9rL._SL160_.jpg)
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1989 (Taylor's Version)[2 LP] | $44.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![The Life of a Showgirl[Sweat & Vanilla Perfume Orange Glitter Vinyl]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51kY4q0L+2L._SL160_.jpg)
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The Life of a Showgirl[Sweat & Vanilla Perfume Orange Glitter Vinyl] | $26.30 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Fearless Platinum Edition[2 LP]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51QAe16MRjL._SL160_.jpg)
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Fearless Platinum Edition[2 LP] | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Midnights[Jade Green Edition LP]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41573DgTorL._SL160_.jpg)
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Midnights[Jade Green Edition LP] | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![Red[2 LP]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51reeYJZWoL._SL160_.jpg)
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Red[2 LP] | $24.97 | Buy on Amazon |
In her official letter, Swift said the assets she had regained included her music, music videos, concert films, album art, photography, and unreleased songs. That is the scope she described publicly; the full private transaction documents and a complete legal inventory of transferred rights were not disclosed in the cited reporting.
What does owning the masters mean?
A master recording is the particular recorded performance—the audio version listeners stream, buy, or hear in a film. Publishing rights concern the underlying song: its composition, including lyrics and melody. They are related but distinct rights. NPR’s report says Swift retained publishing rights to her songs; the 2025 purchase was therefore not the moment she first acquired ownership of her songwriting or publishing rights. NPR explains the distinction and how master ownership can affect uses such as licensing recordings for soundtracks and commercials.
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- The 1989 album changed my life in countless ways, and it fills me with such excitement to announce that my version of it will be out October 27th
Owning the masters gives Swift control over the original recordings’ use, but it should not be stretched into a claim that she acquired every conceivable right, royalty stream, or asset associated with her career. Her own letter specifies the additional categories she said were included.
How do the original albums compare with Taylor’s Version?
Swift had released four re-recorded albums by the May 2025 announcement. A Taylor’s Version is a new recording, distinct from the original master; buying the original masters did not erase or invalidate either version. The re-recordings also included vault material and visuals, according to the Associated Press.
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- Taylor Swift's 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, will be released worldwide October 3, 2025
| Original album | Taylor’s Version released by May 2025 | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| Fearless | Fearless (Taylor’s Version) | 2021 |
| Red | Red (Taylor’s Version) | 2021 |
| Speak Now | Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) | 2023 |
| 1989 | 1989 (Taylor’s Version) | 2023 |
| Self-titled debut | No Taylor’s Version released by May 2025 | Not stated in the cited release summary |
| Reputation | No Taylor’s Version released by May 2025 | Not stated in the cited release summary |
Swift wrote that the re-recording of her debut was complete and that she loved how it sounded. She said she had recorded less than a quarter of Reputation (Taylor’s Version), which she described as an album she did not think could be improved by a remake. She gave no release dates for either, saying they could re-emerge when the time was right. These statements describe their status at the time of her May 30, 2025 letter, not a later release schedule. ABC News reported the release history and her comments on the two remaining re-recordings.
How much did Taylor Swift pay?
The purchase price was not disclosed by Swift, and the Associated Press and Reuters both reported that the financial terms were not made public. NPR’s Texas Public Radio report relayed a roughly $360 million estimate attributed to Billboard, but that is an unconfirmed media estimate—not a confirmed sale price. The amount Swift paid cannot be stated as fact from the available public reporting.
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Why did Swift buy the recordings?
Swift credited the success of her Taylor’s Version albums and the Eras Tour with making the purchase possible. She also thanked Shamrock for being the first to offer the masters to her. In her account, the purchase had no strings attached and did not involve a partnership. Her letter is the source for her explanation of the decision and the terms as she described them.
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- Taylor Swift's 10th studio album Midnights was released on October 21, 2022
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