Ultimate Guide to Taylor Swift Masters Controversy [2025]

The Taylor Swift masters dispute has captivated the music industry for years. What started as a conflict over ownership rights of her original recordings turned into a powerful fight for artists' autonomy and control over their music. "Did Taylor Swift get her masters back?" has been the most talked-about aspect of her career recently.

However, after securing a major victory, this personal triumph sparked widespread discussions about the business side of music and artists' rights. Let's dive into Taylor Swift masters controversy, its impact on other artists, and how to upscale her older videos on desktop!

Part 1: Who Owns Taylor Swift Masters?

The ownership of Taylor Swift's masters has been a point of contention for years, and understanding the full picture requires looking at who owns Taylor Swift's masters before the dispute ignited and at present.

1. Previous Ownership

In 2005, at age 15, Taylor Swift signed a deal with Big Machine Records for her master recordings. These recordings encompassed her first six albums, a collection of some of the most successful and iconic country-pop music of the 21st century. Under her contract, she did not own the rights to her masters, an arrangement that later became a major point of contention in her career.

2. Present Ownership

Fast-forward to 2019, when Scooter Braun's company acquired Big Machine Records, thus gaining ownership of the rights to Taylor Swift's masters. Swift publicly voiced her objections and decided to regain control over her music by re-recording her early albums. In 2025, Swift finally secured ownership of her masters after purchasing them from Shamrock Capital, who had acquired them from Braun.

Part 2: What are the Main Points of Taylor Swift Masters Controversy

This controversy has evolved, with several key points marking its progression. Let's explore the timeline and the course of the event:

1. Taylor Swift Master Recordings were Sold

In June 2019, Scooter Braun's company, Ithaca Holdings, purchased Big Machine Records for an estimated $330 million. This included all of Big Machine's catalog, which contained the rights to Taylor Swift's first six albums. Swift expressed outrage, revealing that she was not given the opportunity to buy back her masters before they were sold to Braun.

2. Swift's Fight for Ownership

After Taylor Swift masters sale, she accused Braun of manipulating the situation and taking away her ability to control her own work. She also raised concerns about how the sale undermined artists' control over their creative outputs. Her public statements framed the situation as an injustice, especially considering her personal and emotional connection with her early work.

3. Re-recording Albums

In response to the sale, Swift began re-recording her first six albums. In 2021, she released "Fearless (Taylor's Version)" and "Red (Taylor's Version)," both of which became massive commercial successes. These re-recordings allowed Swift to regain control, and fans supported her by streaming and purchasing her new song versions.

4. Swift Purchases Master Recordings

After years of fighting, there were speculations that Swift would reach an agreement to purchase her recordings. So, people were inquiring, "Did Taylor Swift buy her masters?" On May 30, 2025, Swift announced that she bought the rights from Shamrock Capital, an investment firm that had previously acquired a stake in Ithaca Holdings. This purchase marked a significant victory for Swift.

Part 3: Will Taylor Swift Re-record Her First and Reputation Albums?

With the re-recording of her early albums, fans have wondered whether Swift will also re-record her first and Reputation albums. While she has not yet, Swift cautioned her fans not to expect the "Taylor Swift" and "Reputation (Taylor's Version)" anytime soon.

Part 4: What Impacts May Taylor Swift Owning Her Masters Back Bring to Other Artists

As Taylor Swift regains control over her music, this landmark moment may influence how other artists approach their own music rights and contracts. So, let's explore the impact it may bring to the broader music community:

1. Increased Awareness of Artists' Rights

Swift's journey highlights the ongoing issue of music ownership and artists' rights. As more artists become aware of the significance of owning their masters, the music industry may shift toward more fair and transparent contracts. This has also sparked conversations about artist independence.

2. Shift in Contract Negotiations

The Taylor Swift dispute has already begun to impact record deal negotiations. Artists and their teams are more likely to seek greater ownership of their music from the outset, reducing the chance of future disputes. Labels may also be more open to revising their terms to accommodate artists' concerns over long-term ownership.

3. Rise in Re-Recordings

With Taylor Swift's re-recording success, other artists may follow suit by reclaiming ownership of their past works. This could lead to an era where re-recording older albums becomes a common strategy for artists looking to regain control of their catalogs.

4. Voice on Stronger Legal Protections for Artists

Taylor Swift's campaign for the ownership of her masters also brings attention to the need for stronger legal protections for artists. As the music industry evolves, establishing more artist-friendly laws becomes necessary to ensure creative professionals retain control over their works.

Part 5: Bonus tips: How to Upscale Old Music Videos of Taylor Swift on Windows and Mac

If you're a fan of Taylor Swift's music videos and want to enhance the visual quality of her old videos, HitPaw VikPea (formerly HitPaw Video Enhancer) is the best solution. This all-in-one video editing and enhancement software uses cutting-edge technology to bring old footage back to life with just a few clicks. It helps you upscale the resolution of your videos up to 4K or even 8K, adding clarity and depth. You can also denoise and repair damaged video files, thus achieving professional-grade results.

Main Features:

• Suitable for both beginners and professionals
• Remove grain and distortion without losing details
• Adjust faded colors and restore natural tones in videos
• Improve the frame rate for smoother video playback
• Process multiple videos in a batch to save time and effort

How to Enhance Music Videos using HitPaw VikPea:

After downloading this software, install and launch it. Now, click "Choose File" or drag & drop the original Taylor Swift's old video.

Next, select the desired AI model from the side column, such as the Face Model. Also, choose the mode and press the settings icon to adjust output parameters.

It's time to press the "Preview" tab and wait for a few seconds. Then, check the output, and if it is okay, hit the "Export" tab. You are all done!

Part 6: FAQs about Taylor Swift Masters

Conclusion

The Taylor Swift masters dispute has sparked a larger conversation about artists' rights in the music industry. From her battle with Scooter Braun to successfully purchasing her master recordings, Taylor Swift's fight for ownership reminds artists to secure control over their creative works. However, for fans who want to upscale their old music videos, HitPaw VikPea is the top choice for its AI enhancement and fast processing.