Apple Music Will Pay Labels During Free Trial
Following pressure from across the music industry, Apple Music has changed course on its royalties policy. The new music service will cost users $9.99 a month, with a 90-day free trial period. When it emerged that rights holders would not be paid during those first three months, industry figures including indie giant Beggars Group and, this past weekend, Taylor Swift, spoke out. Now, Apple has announced that it will pay artists for streaming during the free trial period.
Following Swift’s open letter, which described the royalties policy as “shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company,” Apple’s Senior Vice President, Eddie Cue, called Swift personally to discuss the policy change, Billboard reports. He tweeted last night: “Apple will always make sure that artist are paid. #AppleMusic will pay artist for streaming, even during customer’s free trial period. We hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple”
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
In response, Swift tweeted: “I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us.”
I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us.
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 22, 2015
Speaking to Billboard, Cue added that Swift–who may still withhold her 1989 album from Apple Music–was one of many artists to have expressed concern. He also said it was “never our intent” to not compensate artists, and that the company had been negotiating a higher royalty rate.
Apple Music is set to launch June 30.
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