Taylor Swift just secured a massive payout for artists — here’s why everyone’s talking

Taylor Swift just proved she’s not only the mastermind of lyric writing - she’s also looking out for the entire music industry.

Back in 2018, when she signed her deal with Universal Music Group (UMG), Taylor added a powerful clause: if the label ever sold its Spotify shares, all artists get paid with no strings attached. Not just the big names, not just the ones who’d “paid back” their record deals, everyone. At the time, she said any sale should “result in a distribution of money to their artists, non-recoupable.”

Fast forward to now, and UMG is selling half its Spotify stake. Thanks to Taylor’s move, artists like SZA, Ariana Grande, Kendrick Lamar and Sabrina Carpenter are all set to benefit.

Why does this matter? Because other labels didn’t do the same. Some artists previously missed out depending on their contracts, but Taylor made sure that wouldn’t happen here.

Calling it “a sign that we are headed towards positive change for creators,” Taylor’s long-running fight for fair pay scores another major win.

This isn’t Taylor’s first time advocating for fair artist pay either from her 2014 streaming protest, where she pulled her music from Spotify over low payouts to her successful 2015 push for Apple Music to pay artists during free trials.

Ka Pai Taylor!

Become a part of our ZM Close Friends list and get our newsletter with all the hottest concert news, exclusive giveaways, and behind-the-scenes goss straight to your inbox!

Play ZM loud all weekend long.