Taylor Swift move forces Apple to pay artists

Apple’s decision to pay musicians for songs played on its streaming service — a hasty change after Taylor Swift threatened a boycott — has been given a cautious welcome by industry figures.

The ‘Shake It Off’ singer, 25, said she would hold back her latest album 1989 from Apple Music in protest at the technology giant’s “shocking and disappointing” decision not to pay for songs streamed during a three-month trial.

It prompted an Apple executive to tweet yesterday morning that the musicians would be paid.

We hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple

— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015

#AppleMusic will pay artist for streaming, even during customer’s free trial period

— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015

Alison Wenham from the Worldwide Independent Network, which represents the independent music industry, said the decision to pay for the three-month trial was a positive step.

However, musicians’ union assistant general secretary Horace Trubridge said it was “unclear” exactly what Apple were proposing.

“It’s one thing if you are an act like Taylor Swift and have that market share and commercial power, but if you’re an act with a major label from the 1970s or 1980s, which is where a lot of the streamed music is from, you’ve probably got a crap contract that does not pay out much for streaming,” said Mr Trubridge.

Swift’s stand against the consumer giant comes after she withdrew her entire catalogue from popular music streaming service Spotify in November.

She wrote on her website: “I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free three-month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months.

“I find it to be shocking and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.”

Swift said she was making the stand for new artists, songwriters, and producers.

“These are not the complaints of a spoiled, petulant child,” she added. “These are the echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much. We simply do not respect this particular call.