Taylor Swift 'elated' after Apple backs down over withholding royalties
Pop star Taylor Swift is "elated and relieved" after her threat to boycott Apple's new music streaming service over royalties forced a quick volte-face from the company.
Swift said yesterday 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 period.
It prompted a response from an Apple executive on Monday morning who tweeted that the musicians would be paid.
Eddy Cue, senior vice president for internet software and services, wrote: "Apple will always make sure that artist are paid. AppleMusic will pay artist for streaming, even during customer's free trial period. We hear you taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple."
Swift later tweeted to her 59 million followers: "I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us."
Swift's standing against the consumer giant came after she withdrew her entire catalogue from popular music streaming service Spotify in November.In yesterday's letter published on her website yesterday, Swift said: "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, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company."
Swift said she was making a stand not for herself but for new artists or bands, young songwriters and producers who would not be paid for a quarter of a year's worth of plays.
When she took her music off Spotify last year Swift argued that the streaming company's ad-supported free service undermines the premium service, which provides higher royalties for songwriters.
She claimed Spotify was conducting a "grand experiment" which failed to fairly compensate the creators of music.