Taylor Swift has written an open letter to Apple explaining why her latest album, 1989, will not be available on Apple’s new music streaming service.
At least for the first three months, while the service is free to customers.
Her complaint echoes the one The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s frontman Anton Newcombe famously posted on Twitter (“f… these satanic corporations”), but it comes in a spirit much more likely to be well received in Cupertino—with “love” and “due respect.”
And it comes from the most powerful voice in pop music today.
“I realize that Apple is working towards a goal of paid streaming,” she writes.” I think that is beautiful progress. We know how astronomically successful Apple has been and we know that this incredible company has the money to pay artists, writers and producers for the 3 month trial period… even if it is free for the fans trying it out.
“Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing. I say this with love, reverence, and admiration for everything else Apple has done. I hope that soon I can join them in the progression towards a streaming model that seems fair to those who create this music. I think this could be the platform that gets it right.”
Are you listening, Messrs Cook, Cue and Iovine? Ms. Swift’s fans surely are.
Link: To Apple, Love Taylor.
UPDATE: Apple capitulates! See “Apple gives in on music fees after Taylor Swift’s letter.”
Follow Philip Elmer-DeWitt on Twitter at @philiped. Read his Apple (AAPL) coverage at coins2day.com/ped or subscribe via his RSS feed.
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