Recently, a series of Taylor Swift ‘s songs released from 2019 until now were recorded to have returned to the TikTok platform. Unable to reach a cooperation agreement, Universal Music Group (UMG) and TikTok officially “stopped playing” at the end of January. UMG’s withdrawal of all copyrighted audio from the most popular video sharing platform made the entire industry The music industry has a significant influence. For artists releasing through record labels, not being able to promote through TikTok partially limits the audience’s access to the product.

Meanwhile, TikTok users also have a shortened music library that they can use, especially when UMG owns the world’s top artists such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, BTS, BLACKPINK,… Products of “Snake Queen” released by Republic Records (a label belonging to UMG) seem to be the only exception when reappearing on TikTok.

The fact that music returned to TikTok despite the ban right before the release of her 11th album The Tortured Poets Department caused fans and international media to debate loudly about Taylor Swift’s true power. Dubbed the “music industry”, Taylor Swift is more than just a name. She is an exception in the entire music industry as she is the only star who has autonomy over all of her recordings.

In 2018, the music industry was shocked by the copyright dispute between Taylor Swift and Big Machine Records. Scooter Braun’s purchase of Taylor Swift’s first 6 albums became a fatal “wound” in her 17 years of musical activities. At the end of the lawsuit, Taylor left Big Machine Records and signed a publishing contract through Republic Records.

Learning from life’s experience, the deal between the Anti Hero singer and Republic Records has agreements to protect the artist’s rights to the maximum. The most notable is the provision that Taylor Swift will have full ownership of the master. The record label plays a role in distributing, releasing music and cooperating in promotion.

With this clause, Taylor Swift has complete right to decide everything related to the product, performance and sharing profits from the product. Therefore, Taylor Swift can bring her music back to TikTok without being influenced by the record label.

This is the power of “owning full rights to the master”. Looking at the work of other artists also released through UMG, Taylor Swift is the only name to be fully credited under the name “Taylor Swift”. Meanwhile, most artists will be controlled by the record label, holding all copyrights, or like Kpop groups BLACKPINK, BTS,… the music copyright is owned by the managing company. In some cases like Olivia Rodrigo, The Weeknd,… the artist has mastering rights but authorizes the record label to exploit them within the contract period.

This further shows that Taylor Swift is enjoying “unique” privileges. To be where she is today, Taylor Swift had to rise to the status of a global star. Music not only has cultural and artistic power but also boosts the economy.

Taylor Swift experienced the pain of losing her first 6 albums but did not give up because of that. She turns the public around every time she releases a new product or re-records an old album. It’s no exaggeration to say that she is an exception in the music industry, or as netizens often joke with each other, “Taylor Swift is the record label’s ‘grandmother'”.