Recommended Free Tools
Taylor Swift bought the original master recordings of her first six albums from Shamrock Capital in 2025. Before that purchase, the recordings had moved from her former label, Big Machine, to Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings and then to Shamrock. Swift said fan support for her re-recorded albums and the Eras Tour helped make the buyback possible, but the price she paid was not disclosed in the Associated Press report.
How the ownership changed hands
Swift signed with Big Machine in 2005, when she was 15. Under that arrangement, Big Machine retained the master recordings of her first six albums. After her contract with the label expired, founder Scott Borchetta sold Big Machine and its catalog to Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings in 2019. Shamrock Capital acquired the masters from Ithaca in 2020, and Swift later bought them from Shamrock in 2025.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![1989 (Taylor's Version)[2 LP]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41bwpFCj9rL._SL160_.jpg)
|
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)
|
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)
|
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)
|
Midnights[Jade Green Edition LP] | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![Red[2 LP]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51reeYJZWoL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Red[2 LP] | $24.97 | Buy on Amazon |
- Big Machine: Retained the original masters of Swift’s first six albums under her early recording deal.
- Ithaca Holdings: Acquired Big Machine and its catalog from Borchetta in 2019.
- Shamrock Capital: Acquired the masters from Braun in 2020.
- Taylor Swift: Purchased the original masters from Shamrock in 2025 and announced the deal on May 30.
The Guardian described Shamrock’s 2020 acquisition price as a reported $300 million. That figure refers to Shamrock’s purchase, not Swift’s 2025 buyback; the Associated Press report did not disclose what Swift paid.
Which albums and assets were included?
The six albums whose original masters were at issue are Taylor Swift (2006), Fearless (2008), Speak Now (2010), Red (2012), 1989 (2014), and Reputation (2017). The Guardian reported that Swift’s letter described the reacquisition as covering the masters, music videos, concert films, album art, photography, and unreleased songs.
#1 Best Overall
- 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
The Guardian also corrected its reporting in June 2025 to clarify that Swift had not previously owned the first six albums’ master recordings. The sources do not provide the sale contract or a detailed legal breakdown of each asset. Ownership of a sound recording’s master is also distinct from rights in the underlying song compositions; the cited reports do not establish every songwriting or publishing right involved.
What Taylor’s Version has to do with the buyback
Swift released four re-recorded albums between 2021 and 2023: Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Red (Taylor’s Version), Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), and 1989 (Taylor’s Version). These are new recordings, separate from the original masters she bought from Shamrock. For example, the official Taylor Swift Store lists 1989 (Taylor’s Version) as a physical two-disc vinyl edition; it is a re-recording, not one of the original masters involved in the purchase.
Rank #2
- Taylor Swift's 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, will be released worldwide October 3, 2025
| Recording | What it is | Release status in the cited reporting |
|---|---|---|
| Original albums | The first six albums’ original master recordings | Swift said she bought them from Shamrock in 2025 |
| Taylor’s Version albums | New recordings of four of those albums | Released from 2021 through 2023 |
| Re-recorded debut | A new recording of Taylor Swift | Swift said it was completely rerecorded in her May 2025 letter; the letter did not establish a release date |
| Re-recorded Reputation | A new recording of the 2017 album | Swift said she had not rerecorded a quarter of it when she wrote in May 2025 |
Swift said that support for the re-recordings and the success of the Eras Tour helped her purchase the masters. The cited reports do not establish a specific amount of revenue from either, so a precise financial contribution cannot be stated. In her May 2025 letter, she left open the possibility that the remaining re-recordings or unreleased “From the Vault” tracks could appear later; that did not amount to a confirmed release date.
What Swift said about the deal—and what is not public
Swift described the transaction as an outright purchase with no strings attached, no partnership, and full autonomy. That is her public description of the deal. The cited reports do not include the contract, so its detailed legal terms cannot be independently assessed from those accounts.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallRank #3
“All I’ve ever wanted was the opportunity to work hard enough to be able to one day purchase my music outright with no strings attached, no partnership, with full autonomy.”
Taylor Swift, in her May 30, 2025 letter to fans
Shamrock said it was pleased with the result, telling the Associated Press: “We are thrilled with this outcome and are so happy for Taylor.”
Rank #4
- Taylor Swift's 10th studio album Midnights was released on October 21, 2022
How much did Taylor Swift pay?
The 2025 purchase price was not disclosed in the cited Associated Press report. The Guardian said rumors placing the price between $600 million and $1 billion were inaccurately high, but did not report a final transaction amount. Those figures should not be treated as the verified price Swift paid.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →
