Pop musician Taylor Swift has been in the spotlight –a lot- recently. After famously cold-shouldering Spotify due to its ridiculously low royalty payments, the artist now wrote an open letter to Apple Inc. AAPL, criticizing its new music streaming service. Swift alleges that the company's decision to offer a three-month free trial period should not impact on artists’ royalties, as it would in the first place.
Related Link: Taylor Swift Stands Up To Apple
Long story short, Apple seems to have changed its mind following the pop-star’s open message. On late-Sunday, senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, Eddy Cue, posted a series of Tweets saying that Apple now intends to pay royalties during the free trial period as well.
Related Link: Apple To Taylor Swift: Shake It Off, We'll Pay The Royalties
Now, it seems quite impressive that a 25 year-old could strong-arm the world’s biggest company. However, it looks like she did. Or did she?
Let’s take a look at what people on Twitter Inc TWTR are saying about this:
“Respect” is a word that’s been circulating a lot:
So much love and respect for @taylorswift13 for getting Apple to reverse their policy. She stood up for every musician out there.
— Chrissy Costanza (@ChrissyCostanza) June 23, 2015
from a couple of small indie kids, to the woman who reasoned with Apple. Thank you. @taylorswift13 #ThankYouTaylor #respect
— Kohavi (@Kohavi_Music) June 23, 2015
Special thanks @taylorswift13 for standing up for artists/songwriters everywhere & taking on Apple.This is the change we need! Much respect
— Coby Greer Music (@CobyGreerMusic) June 22, 2015
And many are convinced and proud of Swift's victory:
Taylor Swift vs Apple proves that if you're a millionaire with millions of fans, you too can Stick it to the Man. What an uplifting story.
— Gore Vidal Sassoon (@JimmyJazz1968) June 23, 2015
Everything has changed: @taylorswift13 calls on Apple to reconsider royalties, Apple complies. http://t.co/JRilNwpbWI pic.twitter.com/lqDvSWxtup
— Scott Kleinberg (@scottkleinberg) June 22, 2015
i don't understand how Apple thought not paying would be OK in the first place... thanks @taylorswift13 https://t.co/fgoGmnVuc5
— Nick Petricca (@petricholas) June 22, 2015
Meanwhile, others are more sceptical:
Cant help feeling that Taylor Swift’s open letter to apple abt its streaming service is an orchestrated publicity stunt.
— Altimet (@altimet) June 23, 2015
Bottom line, Apple has changed its mind following Swift's letter, and social media went crazy about it. Come back to Benzinga to check out how the issue continues to develop as the young singer goes on defending what's hers (and from musicians around the globe).
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