IT’S a feud that has split the music world in two – with bitter sniping between Camp Taylor and Camp Scooter.
But the rift between Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun has been reignited this week when it emerged the music manager has sold the rights to the singer’s back catalogue to an investment company for a hefty $300m.
The move comes as a blow to the Shake It Off star, who had been attempting to regain control of her first six albums – acquired by Braun last year when he bought Big Machine Records.
The 30-year-old singer – with a net worth of £358 million – has accused Braun of “incessant, manipulative bullying” and claims he was behind a “revenge porn” video made by his client Kanye West that depicted her naked in bed with other celebrities, including Donald Trump and sex offender Bill Cosby.
She has also accused Scooter Braun of roping Justin Bieber into ‘online bullying’ and says when she tried to buy her music rights back, he tried to force her to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) usually used “to silence an assault accuser.”
Stars including Cara Delevingne and Katy Perry back Swift’s stance against Braun, while Justin Beiber and Demi Lovato have backed their manager.
As the row erupts once again, we look back over the explosive feud between two titans of the music industry.
When 15-year-old Taylor Swift signed a recording contract with Scott Borchetta, who was in the process of setting up Big Machine Records, she was over the moon at her rosy future.
Her stockbroker Dad even bought a three per cent stake in the company, for £90,000.
But the very contract that gave her a shot at stardom has come back to bite her – by robbing her of her first six albums, and the pride she felt at their success.
In June last year, the record company was sold for £225million, giving Scooter Braun control of Taylor’s entire back catalogue.
Although she said she always knew the company could be sold, Taylor said she was “sad and grossed out” that the man she accused of relentlessly bullying her throughout her career now had control of her creative canon.
