Taylor Swift blasts Scooter Braun after being 'banned' from performing her music on TV
15 November 2019, 12:06
In a statement shared to Twitter, Taylor Swift claimed that she was being stopped from performing her older songs by Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta. She also revealed a Netflix documentary was in the works and called on fans and to help resolve the ongoing issue. Earlier this year, Taylor Swift slammed Braun for his $300 million acquisition of her catalogue.
Taylor Swift is asking for help from fans in the ongoing dispute over her masters. Late on Thursday (Nov. 14) Taylor posted an open letter on Twitter calling out Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta for allegedly barring her from performing her own music at the upcoming AMAs, where she will be honoured as the Artist of the Decade. Taylor also revealed that she has been prohibited from using her music in an upcoming Netflix produced documentary about her life.
READ MORE: A full timeline of the Taylor Swift, Scooter Braun and Justin Bieber drama
In the note, Taylor said she didn't "know what else to do" about the situation and that she and her team had attempted to handle it privately.
The singer alleges that Braun and Borchetta will only allow her to use her music if she does not "re-record copycat version" of her songs and if she stops talking about the two men.
Shortly after posting a June open letter about Braun purchasing her catalogue for $300 million, Taylor revealed she plans to re-record her music in 2020.
Taylor's new open letter on Twitter shed more light on the ongoing battle for the rights to her own music.
Don’t know what else to do pic.twitter.com/1uBrXwviTS
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) November 14, 2019
Read Taylor's full statement about Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta below.
"Guys – it's been announced recently that the American Music Awards will be honoring me with the Artist of the Decade Award at this year's ceremony. I've been planning to perform a medley of my hits throughout the decade on the show. Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun have said that I'm not allowed to perform my old songs on television because they claim that would be re-recording my music before I'm allowed to next year."
"Additionally – and this isn't the way I had planned on telling you this news – Netflix has created a documentary about my life for the past few years. Scott and Scooter have declined the use of my older music or performance footage for this project, even though there is no mention of either of them or Big Machine Records anywhere in the film."
"Scott Borchetta told my team that they'll allow me to use my music only if I do these things: If I agree to not re-record copycat versions of my songs next year (which is something I'm both legally allowed to do and looking forward to) and also told my team that I need to stop talking about him and Scooter Braun."
"I feel very strongly that sharing what is happening to me could change the awareness level for other artists and potentially help them avoid a similar fate. The message being sent to me is very clear. Basically, be a good little girl and shut up. Or you'll be punished."
"This is WRONG. Neither of these men had a hand in the writing of these songs. They did nothing to create the relationship I have with my fans. So this is where I'm asking for your help. Please let Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun know you feel about this. Scooter also manages several artists I really believe care about other artists and their work."
"Please ask them for help with this – I'm hoping that maybe they can talk some sense into the men who are exercising tyrannical control over someone who just wants to play the music she wrote. I'm especially asking for help from The Carlyle Group, who put up the money for the sale of my music to these two men."
"I just want to be able to perform MY OWN music. That's it. I've tried to work this out privately through my team but have not been able to resolve anything. Right now my performance at the AMA's, the Netflix documentary and any other recorded evens I am planning to play until November of 2020 are a question mark. I love you guys and I thought you should know what's been going on."
Scooter Braun manages popular artists like Demi Lovato, Justin Bieber, and Ariana Grande. Over the summer, Demi Lovato and Justin Bieber both spoke out in support of Braun in the feud.
Meanwhile, musicians and other celebrities have expressed their support for Taylor and her most recent statements. Halsey, Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid and more have lent their support. #IStandWithTaylor has also trended across social media.
