Taylor Swift announced on May 30, 2025, that she had bought her music back from Shamrock Capital, the investment firm identified as the catalog’s most recent owner before the purchase. The assigned headline’s claim that an investment fund owns the catalog is therefore outdated. Swift’s announcement and the Associated Press report establish the buyback announcement, but do not establish whether any later transfer has occurred.
Who owns Taylor Swift’s old catalog now?
Swift says she owns the music she has made. In her May 30, 2025, letter, she wrote: “All of the music I’ve ever made… now belongs… to me.” The Associated Press reported that she bought back her first six albums from Shamrock Capital. The purchase price was not disclosed in the AP report.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Life of a Showgirl[Sweat & Vanilla Perfume Orange Glitter Vinyl] | $26.30 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
1989 (Taylor's Version)[2 LP] | $44.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Red[2 LP] | $24.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
folklore[Beige 2 LP] | $34.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
1989 [2 LP] | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
This is an account of Swift’s announcement and AP’s reporting, not a review of the purchase agreement or a legal schedule of assets. The available reporting establishes Shamrock as the prior owner and seller, but does not document any subsequent transfer after Swift’s announcement.
How the catalog moved from Big Machine to Shamrock
Swift’s first six albums were recorded for Big Machine. The early catalog later passed through Scooter Braun’s company to Shamrock. In a November 2020 account, Swift said she had tried to regain control and that her team learned about the Shamrock purchase after the sale. CBS News, reporting via AFP at the time, covered her account that the catalog had been sold without her knowledge.
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- Taylor Swift's 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, will be released worldwide October 3, 2025
Swift described the assets announced by Shamrock as including her music, videos and album art. That description reflects her account; the legal scope of the assets transferred was not established in the available reporting.
What Swift says she bought back
In her 2025 announcement, Swift named more than the original sound recordings. She listed music videos, concert films, album art, photography and unreleased songs alongside her music. Those are the assets as she described them; the purchase agreement’s precise terms have not been made public in the cited coverage.
Rank #2
- 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
Ownership of master recordings is distinct from rights in the underlying songwriting and publishing. The announcement and AP report do not explain the status of those publishing rights or define the transaction’s legal scope, so they should not be treated as evidence that every right connected to every song changed hands.
How Taylor’s Version fits into the story
Swift rerecorded and released four of the early albums as Taylor’s Version. Those are new recordings, distinct from the original versions made for Big Machine. In her 2025 letter, she credited fan support for the rerecorded albums and the Eras Tour with enabling her to buy her music back. That is Swift’s explanation of their role, not an independently quantified account of how the deal was financed.
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Rank #3
The original albums and Taylor’s Version releases should not be conflated: they are different recordings and releases. The sources cited here do not establish that the ownership of the underlying compositions is identical to ownership of either set of recordings.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about the buyback price?
The 2025 purchase price was not disclosed in AP’s May 30, 2025, report. A figure associated with coverage of the earlier catalog sale is not the price of Swift’s later repurchase, and should not be presented as such.
Rank #4
- Swift's album, folklore, now on Beige 2 LP coming July 23rd! "Most of the things I had planned this summer didn't end up happening, but there is something I hadn't planned on that DID happen
Shamrock’s response, quoted by AP, was: “We are thrilled with this outcome and are so happy for Taylor.” Swift also wrote, “I will be forever grateful to everyone at Shamrock Capital for being the first people to ever offer this to me.”
Quick Recap
Best Value
Sources
- Taylor Swift’s official website, “Read My Letter”, her May 30, 2025, announcement.
- Associated Press, “Taylor Swift has regained control of her music, buys back first 6 albums,” May 30, 2025.
- CBS News / AFP, “Taylor Swift says back catalog sold by Scooter Braun without her knowledge,” November 17, 2020.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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