9th of April 2021 – Taylor Swift fans will remember the day clearly – when the first of the artist’s re-recordings, Fearless (Taylor’s Version), was finally released. The first of six re-recordings, the most recent being Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) released on the 27th of October 2023 – it was to be the beginning of the end of one of the music industry’s most famous contemporary copyright disputes. However, more than that, I believe it was a powerful example of a woman reclaiming agency that paved the way for what women could achieve in the business sphere.
When Swift’s previous contract with Big Machine Records ended and she moved to Republic Records in 2018, there followed a very public dispute about the ownership of her original masters, now in the possession of American entrepreneur and new owner of Big Machine Records, Scooter Braun, who was able to continue making money from Swift’s music. Unable to get her rights back, Swift launched a project of re-recording her first six albums, the ones released before the move to Republic Records, this time, under her rights ownership. This decision was genius from a business perspective. Whilst – yes – it meant Swift remained prominent in the media and a hot topic of pop culture conversation, helping her to keep making money off content released years ago, to me, it was also a message to society about what women are capable of within business. This was Taylor Swift reclaiming agency as a savvy businesswoman and beware anyone who tried to take advantage of her!
Women in business have always struggled – through no fault or attributes of their own – as they have strived for success in a world constantly rigged against them. In her experience as a woman in business, co-founder of YEO, Sarah Norford Jones, says, “in meetings… I don’t get patronised… I get glossed over”. This perfectly highlights the age-old struggle of women in business: failing to get taken seriously or listened to in comparison to their male counterparts, whilst being just as competent as they are.
This is why, for me, Swift’s decision to re-record her albums was so significant and powerful. As much as music is about art and creativity, it is impossible to ignore the importance that business plays within the industry, especially at the top. When it came to dealing with business, Swift stood up and took full control, forcing those around her to take her seriously. Her strength as a businesswoman was undeniable. Whilst following in Swift’s footsteps may not be an accessible option for most people in the business industry – not having the name nor the multimillion-dollar net worth to back up the action – she is certainly an inspiration for taking control of your situation and forcing others to take you seriously as a woman in business.
– Sarah Norford Jones quote – https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/women-entrepreneurs/five-barriers/