Ever since it was announced at WWDC In San Francisco on June 8, there has been a new headline about Apple Music seemingly every single day. Some have been positive and some have been negative thus far. One of the bits of information that has caused the most outrage from the music industry has been Apple's move to insist that the service pay no royalties while it runs three-month free trials with new consumers. For the most valuable company in the world, this seemed to be a bit much and independent artists and labels have lashed out. However, it was not until Taylor Swift penned an open letter to Apple Music calling them out for their plan to not pay artists during that free trial did change really come. In response to letter, which quickly went viral, Apple Music, has backtracked and will now pay royalties during the three-month free trial period.
In a series of tweets Sunday night, Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue shared the news that Apple would in fact be paying artists for all streams on the website via Rolling Stone.
Apple will always make sure that artist are paid #iTunes #AppleMusic
— 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
We hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple — Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015
Swift responded to Cue's Tweets with a sigh of relief that the artists had won the day this time.
I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us.
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 22, 2015
Apple is backtracking in response to a letter written by Taylor on her Tumblr page where she explained why the "Bad Blood" singer wouldn't be putting her material on Apple Music.
"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 starts.
She emphasized that this is not to benefit her, but rather the small bands who need every little bit of money they can get for the art they create.
"This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success. This is about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt. This is about the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field...but will not get paid for a quarter of a year's worth of plays on his or her songs."
Swift finishes with a flourish, "We don't ask you for free iPhones. Please don't ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation."
