Taylor Swift’s former record company has hit back at the singer for making ‘false’ claims that the label banned her from singing her own songs on television.
In a Friday morning statement, Big Machine Label Group also alleged that Swift owes ‘millions of dollars’ to their label and that her social media posts are threatening the safety of their employees.
‘As Taylor Swift’s partner for over a decade, we were shocked to see her tumblr statements yesterday based on false information. At no point did we say Taylor could not perform on the AMAs or block her Netflix special,’ a statement released by Big Machine Label Group reads.
The statement was shared on the company’s website just hours after Swift made the claim on Thursday.
‘In fact, we do not have the right to keep her from performing live anywhere. Since Taylor’s decision to leave Big Machine last fall, we have continued to honor all of her requests to license her catalog to third parties as she promotes her current record in which we do not financially participate.
According to Big Machine Label Group, which is run by Braun and Borchetta, Swift has admitted to ‘contractually owning millions of dollars’ to their company.
The company went on to say: ‘Taylor, the narrative you have created does not exist. All we ask is to have a direct and hones conversation.’
Taylor Swift’s former record company has hit back at the singer after she revealed that she was banned by Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta (both, pictured right) from singing her own songs on television or at the American Music Awards unless she stopped talking about them
In a post captioned, ‘Don’t know what else to do’, Swift, 29, said: ‘Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun have now said that I’m not allowed to perform my old songs on television’
In a post captioned, ‘Don’t know what else to do’, Swift, 29, said: ‘Guys – It’s been announced recently that the AMAs will be honoring me with the Artist of the Decade Award at this year’s ceremony.
‘I’ve been planning to perform a medley of my hits throughout the decade on the show. Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun have now said that I’m not allowed to perform my old songs on television because they claim that would be re-recording my music before I’m allowed to next year.
‘Additionally – and this isn’t the way I had planned on telling you this news – Netflix has created a documentary about my life for the past few years. Scott and Scooter have declined the use of my older music or performance footage for this project, even though there is no mention of either of them or Big Machine Records anywhere in the film.’
Celebrities started showing public support for Swift after she made the revelation on Thursday.
But as #IStandWithTaylor began trending, Braun and Borchetta also faced death threats from the 29-year-old’s fans after Swift attempted to force them to rethink their decision.
Shortly after Big Machine Label Group released their statement, Taylor Swift’s team swiftly released theirs
Swift claimed that Big Machine Records founder, Borchetta, and music executive Braun – who rose to prominence managing Justin Bieber – have effectively told her to ‘shut up or you’ll be punished’.
Braun controversially bought the label this summer and acquired rights to Swift’s old music, in what she previously described as her ‘worst-case scenario’.
Swift will be unable to perform a planned medley of her greatest hits at the American Music Awards next Sunday where she is due to receive Artist of the Decade.
They have also allegedly denied permission to use her old songs on a Netflix documentary that has been two years in the making.
Gigi Hadid, Tinashe, Rebecca Black and Spencer Pratt were among those posting on social media after Swift explosively claimed they told her she cannot perform her old songs on TV because it would constitute a re-recording.
Musician and Broadway star Sara Bareilles called it an ‘outrageous abuse of power’ and ‘completely unforgivable’.
Actor Alan Cumming simply tweeted: ‘Leave @TaylorSwift13 alone!’
Lily Allen posted: ‘Solidarity with Taylor here, this sounds awful, and people wonder why music hasn’t had its #MeToo moment?’
On Thursday, Swift said re-recording next year is something she is ‘legally allowed to do’. She summarized the spat as them telling her: ‘Basically, be a good little girl and shut up. Or you’ll be punished’
Swift added: ‘Right now my performance at the AMA’s, the Netflix documentary and any other recorded events I am planning to play until November of 2020 are a question mark’
Singer Halsey posted a clip of herself singing Swift’s 2011 track Mean.
She posted on Instagram: ‘This is just mean. This is punishment. This is hoping to silence her from speaking about things by dangling this over her head. It is her grace and patience in these moments that make her Artist of the Decade.’
At the same messages online included: ‘Give Taylor back her music @scooterbraun you do and you’ll have people off your back until then prepare to die.’
Another tweet including a picture of a knife read: ‘you will die a schmuck.’
In August, Swift revealed plans to re-record albums 1-5 in a chat on Good Morning America.
‘Something that’s very special to me about this album is it’s the first one that I will own,’ she began about her new release Lover.
‘My contract says starting from November 2020 I can start re-recording albums 1-5. I think artists deserve to own their own work. It’s next year, I’m gonna be busy.’
She had previously fumed to CBS Sunday Morning that she couldn’t believe who Borchetta sold her music to because they had had ‘numerous conversations about Braun’.
Swift was signed to Big Machine in 2006 for her first six albums but she went to Universal Music for her seventh release, Lover.
She quipped about the $300million acquisition by Braun’s Ithaca Holding: ‘But he has 300 million convenient reasons.’
In a June blog post, she said for years she pleaded for a chance to own her work but was only given an opportunity to sign back up to Big Machine Records and ‘earn’ one album back at a time, ‘one for every new one I turned in’.
She claimed she ‘walked away because I knew once I signed that contract, Scott Borchetta would sell the label, thereby selling me and my future’.
On Thursday, Swift shared that she has faced obstacles since then.
Singer Lily Allen posted: ‘Solidarity with Taylor here, this sounds awful, and people wonder why music hasn’t had its #MeToo moment?’
Singer Halsey sang Swift’s old song on Instagram (left) and posted: ‘This is just mean. This is punishment. This is hoping to silence her from speaking about things by dangling this over her head. It is her grace and patience in these moments that make her Artist of the Decade.’
Fans directly sent threatening tweets to Braun and Borchetta on Thursday night
‘Scott Borchetta told my team that they’ll allow me to use my music only if I do these things: If I agree to not re-record copycat versions of my songs next year (which is something I’m both legally allowed to do and looking forward to) and also told my team that I need to stop talking about him and Scooter Braun,’ Swift continued Thursday.
‘I feel very strongly that sharing what is happening to me could change the awareness level for other artists and potentially help them avoid a similar fate.
‘The message being sent to me is very clear. Basically, be a good little girl and shut up. Or you’ll be punished.’
The Shake It Off hitmaker went on to plead with fans to fight on her behalf.
Braun has worked with the likes of Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato. She also called on her fellow artists to speak out.
‘This is WRONG. Neither of these men had a hand in the writing of those songs. They did nothing to create the relationship I have with my fans. So this is where I’m asking for your help,’ Swift wrote.
‘Please let Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun know how you feel about this. Scooter also manages several artists who I really believe care about other artists and their work.
‘Please ask them for help with this – I’m hoping that maybe they can talk some sense into the men who are exercising tyrannical control over someone who just wants to play the music she wrote.’
She had previously fumed to CBS Sunday Morning that she couldn’t believe who Borchetta (left at the Country Music Awards in 2006 and right in 2013) sold her music to because they had had ‘numerous conversations about Braun’
Music executive Scooter Braun rose to prominence managing Justin Bieber. Braun (far right, in white) sits down for lunch with Misha Nonoo (white blouse, yellow skirt), in Rome on the day after Nonoo’s wedding
Bieber and Braun are seen backstage during the One Love Manchester Benefit Concert at Old Trafford Cricket Ground in 2017
In a June blog post, she said for years she pleaded for a chance to own her work. Pictured she accuses Bieber’s manager Braun of bullying her
With the rights to masters from Swift and other artists on their roster, the Big Machine Records catalog is estimated to be worth $1billion. Reba McEntire, Thomas Rhett and Rascal Flatts are some of the artists on the label.
‘I’m especially asking for help from The Carlyle Group, who put up money for the sale of my music to these two men,’ the Love Story singer added. ‘I just want to be able to perform MY OWN music. That’s it.
‘I’ve tried to work this out privately through my team but have not been able to resolve anything.’
She then dropped the bombshell that she may not perform at the November 24 awards show at all and the documentary about her may never stream.
‘Right now my performance at the AMA’s, the Netflix documentary and any other recorded events I am planning to play until November of 2020 are a question mark,’ she said.
But TMZ reports that Big Machine sources say Bruan and Borchetta have ‘extended an olive branch to Taylor, asking her to sit down with them and try to bury the hatchet’.
The source claimed ‘she flatly refused, threatening if they didn’t give her exactly what she wanted she’d go public and tell people to attack Big Machine as well as Scott and Scooter’.
The insider added that Swift ‘has admitted she owes the label more than $7million and hasn’t paid for more than a year’.
They also reportedly claimed she owes the label masters and video content.
DailyMail.com has reached out to reps for Braun and Borchetta but did not immediately get a response.