The latest reports note Taylor Swift will not make her hit album 1989 part of the streamed content available in Apple's soon-to-launch streaming service.
Swift has been vocal in the past on her stand against certain music streaming services. In November 2014, the artist pulled her entire library from Spotify, arguing that the service's free streaming service devalued music and adding that music should not be free and should be consumed as full albums. In the future, Swift predicted, artists will be able to set a standard album price, as well.
In turn, Swift decided to keep her older music on services that offer paid subscriptions. These include Tidal and Rdio. The artist had previously released a trio of bonus cuts from 1989 to iTunes as an exclusive offer. However, the full album is said to be available only as a CD or as a paid download.
Apple tried but failed to get the rights to Swift's 1989 album. Apart from Apple, the album seems to also have evaded being streamed in any other streaming services. The news was confirmed by representatives for both Apple and Big Machine Records, Swift's current mother label.
According to Big Machine, a future release of 1989 to any streaming service is highly unlikely at the moment. This means that consumers have no choice but to pay for the album in music stores, or anything but streaming it free. Swift's strategy didn't affect the album's commercial success. With more than 8 million copies sold worldwide since its initial October release, it is now touted as the best-selling album for two years in a row.
The album 1989 includes Taylor Swift's latest hit single "Bad Blood." The song's music video has been touted as the most-viewed video on Vevo after earning more than 20 million views in a span of just 24 hours.
Somehow, Apple and Swift have maintained a good relationship in the past. With the launching of Apple Music, however, things may change a little bit, although it won't be as extreme as Spotify's case.
Apple Music will reportedly offer more than 30 million songs when it launches its service toward the end of June. Price options include $9.99 and $14.99, per month, for families of up to six members.
