A live concert special from Taylor Swift’s “1989 World Tour” will be released exclusively on Apple Music.
Apple Music and Taylor Swift announced the new streaming deal through Twitter on Sunday, the singer’s 26th birthday.
JUST ANNOUNCED!@taylorswift13's #1989WorldTourLIVE, only on #AppleMusic.
See it 12/20.Https://t.co/vq14vXfPwnpic.twitter.com/UC5Tc0ngnx— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) December 13, 2015
https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/676085322061512704
The Associated Press reports that during an interview with Zane Lowe of Apple Music’s Beats 1 Radio, which airs Monday, Swift speculated that her June Tumblr post criticizing Apple is likely what led to this partnership. Apple had announced that it wouldn’t pay artists during its free three-month trial of Apple Music. Following Swift’s disparaging post, the company overturned its initial decision.
The musician told Lowe that Apple contacted her about taping a concert performance for a special. “I think that is probably the starting point,” Swift said, “because I didn’t have a personal relationship with Apple until that point.”
“The 1989 World Tour LIVE” will be released on Dec. 20. The performance was recorded on Nov. 28 at Sydney, Australia’s ANZ Stadium and includes appearances by Justin Timberlake, Mick Jagger, and Kobe Bryant. Apple Music users will be able to stream the special for free. The service is also the only one on which Swift’s “1989” album can be found.