01of 07
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift.Craig Barritt/Getty Images
The “You Need to Calm Down” singer prompteda renewed debate over artists' rightsto own their musical catalogs on June 30, whenshe publicly denounced Scooter Braunfor acquiring her masters in a $300 million sale.
In ascathing Tumblr post, the pop powerhouse detailed her frustration with the situation, explaining that she’d been trying to own her own music for years and had been told she would need to sign a new contract with BMLG that only exchanged ownership of one of her old albums for each new one she completed.
Swift went on to call Braun’s ownership of her catalogue her “worst case scenario,” and accused the manager of “incessant, manipulative bullying” over the years, particularly in relation to herfeud with Kanye West.
02of 07
Prince
The late music icon dedicated much of his career to fighting for artists' rights to their music. “Record contracts are just like — I’m gonna say the word — slavery,” PrincetoldRolling Stonein 2015. “I would tell any young artist… don’t sign.”
03of 07
Kesha
Michael Rozman/Warner Bros.
Kesha has beenembroiled in a legal back-and-forthwith producer Dr. Luke since 2014, when she sued him for allegedly drugging and raping her as well as for verbal, physical and emotional abuse. Luke has repeatedly denied all of the singer’s claims.
Throughout the drawn-out process, Kesha was denied her request for a preliminary injuction that would have allowed her to record music outside of her contractual obligations to Luke until the lawsuit is settled.
The “Praying” singer is still tied to Luke through her recording contract with his label.
04of 07
The Beatles
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
The fight for ownership over the Beatles' music catalog has truly been a “Long and Winding Road.”
After decades of drama surrounding the rights to their masters,McCartney filed a lawsuit in 2017in hopes of regaining some of the band’s earliest works under the US Copyright Act of 1976, which allows artists to reclaim copyright from publishers after 35 years.
05of 07Lil' KimMaury Phillips/GettyThe Brooklyn rapper left Atlantic Records in 2008, citing artistic differences and searching for more control over her music. When she then took up with hip hip production duo Trackmasters, she “was supposed to be treated as a partner,” she said during a radio interview withiPower 92.1.But according to Kim, things didn’t go as planned, and the duo eventually took legal action against her. “We were in court for months… months! And the situation dragged out for a year and a half!” she told the radio station.“When people was like ‘Where is the music?’ I couldn’t really do anything. I was under court restrictions and if I did anything I would end up back in court,” she explained. “So there you have it, I could not make any albums, I couldn’t make any music. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t do anything with my music. I couldn’t really make any money, period, until that situation was settled.“Now, the situation is “100 percent done,” the “Crush on You” singer revealed.
05of 07
Lil' Kim
Maury Phillips/Getty
The Brooklyn rapper left Atlantic Records in 2008, citing artistic differences and searching for more control over her music. When she then took up with hip hip production duo Trackmasters, she “was supposed to be treated as a partner,” she said during a radio interview withiPower 92.1.
But according to Kim, things didn’t go as planned, and the duo eventually took legal action against her. “We were in court for months… months! And the situation dragged out for a year and a half!” she told the radio station.
“When people was like ‘Where is the music?’ I couldn’t really do anything. I was under court restrictions and if I did anything I would end up back in court,” she explained. “So there you have it, I could not make any albums, I couldn’t make any music. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t do anything with my music. I couldn’t really make any money, period, until that situation was settled.”
Now, the situation is “100 percent done,” the “Crush on You” singer revealed.
06of 07Iggy AzaleaJohn Parra/GettyAfter leaving Island Records in November 2018, the “Fancy” rapper shared on Twitter that she was “officially unsigned!““Wild you spend so long trying to get IN a record deal… never thought I’d be so elated to be OUT of one,” she tweeted on Nov. 3. “Now I’m free to release whatever kinda music I like, whenever I’d like woooo!“Things then seemed to move “in the fast lane” for Azalea, who announced just two weeks later that she hadsigned a new record dealworth $2.7 million, and that she would own her masters moving forwards.“Proud to say I literally just signed my new deal/partnership!“she wrote. “2.7mil, can sign others, own my masters + 100% independent – I’m feeling like such a bossy grown ass bitch today! Time to get back to ME. I’m so grateful & excited…Cheers!”
06of 07
Iggy Azalea
John Parra/Getty
After leaving Island Records in November 2018, the “Fancy” rapper shared on Twitter that she was “officially unsigned!”
“Wild you spend so long trying to get IN a record deal… never thought I’d be so elated to be OUT of one,” she tweeted on Nov. 3. “Now I’m free to release whatever kinda music I like, whenever I’d like woooo!”
Things then seemed to move “in the fast lane” for Azalea, who announced just two weeks later that she hadsigned a new record dealworth $2.7 million, and that she would own her masters moving forwards.
“Proud to say I literally just signed my new deal/partnership!“she wrote. “2.7mil, can sign others, own my masters + 100% independent – I’m feeling like such a bossy grown ass bitch today! Time to get back to ME. I’m so grateful & excited…Cheers!”
07of 07JoJoRich Polk/GettyJoJo was thrilled when she signed a seven-album deal with Blackground Records at age 12 — until they made it impossible for her to “Leave (Get Out)” a few years down the line.“It was a dream come true,” she toldVulturein 2015. “We were assured that the deal was very normal, and the lawyer that I was with at the time said, ‘This is a great deal, you shouldn’t look into it any deeper than what it is. You’re gonna be protected.’ We didn’t know anything,” she explained, adding that her mom “didn’t have any experience in the industry.“After she shot to stardom with her 2004 eponymous debut album and 2006’sThe High Road, the singer began to hit repeated road blocks as the label dragged out the release of her third album indefinitely while refusing to let her out of her contract.“I never got a concrete explanation for what happened. There wasn’t a lot of communication, just a lot of lawyer talk at this point,” she recalled to the outlet.JoJo eventually released two free mixtapes in 2010 and 2012 while still battling her label, and in 2013 finally managed to break free from her contract. She promptly signed with Atlantic Records, and in 2017 left to start Clover Music, her own joint venture with Interscope which helped her achieve her “ultimate goal” of ownership over her music.
07of 07
JoJo
Rich Polk/Getty
JoJo was thrilled when she signed a seven-album deal with Blackground Records at age 12 — until they made it impossible for her to “Leave (Get Out)” a few years down the line.
“It was a dream come true,” she toldVulturein 2015. “We were assured that the deal was very normal, and the lawyer that I was with at the time said, ‘This is a great deal, you shouldn’t look into it any deeper than what it is. You’re gonna be protected.’ We didn’t know anything,” she explained, adding that her mom “didn’t have any experience in the industry.”
After she shot to stardom with her 2004 eponymous debut album and 2006’sThe High Road, the singer began to hit repeated road blocks as the label dragged out the release of her third album indefinitely while refusing to let her out of her contract.
“I never got a concrete explanation for what happened. There wasn’t a lot of communication, just a lot of lawyer talk at this point,” she recalled to the outlet.
JoJo eventually released two free mixtapes in 2010 and 2012 while still battling her label, and in 2013 finally managed to break free from her contract. She promptly signed with Atlantic Records, and in 2017 left to start Clover Music, her own joint venture with Interscope which helped her achieve her “ultimate goal” of ownership over her music.
source: people.com
