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Big Machine Records deny Taylor Swift's claims they're blocking her from using her old music

15 November 2019, 14:52 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

Big Machine Records bosses Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta have responded to Taylor Swift's statement where she claims the label told her she's not allowed touse or perform any of her old songs.

Variety posted Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta's response to Swift's statement earlier today, which is signed by Big Machine and sent by Braun’s SB Projects.

The company responded: "As Taylor Swift’s partner for over a decade, we were shocked to see her Tumblr statements yesterday based on false information. At no point did we say Taylor could not perform on the AMAs or block her Netflix special. In fact, we do not have the right to keep her from performing live anywhere. Since Taylor’s decision to leave Big Machine last fall, we have continued to honor all of her requests to license her catalog to third parties as she promotes her current record in which we do not financially participate."

"The truth is, Taylor has admitted to contractually owing millions of dollars and multiple assets to our company, which is responsible for 120 hardworking employees who helped build her career. We have worked diligently to have a conversation about these matters with Taylor and her team to productively move forward. We started to see progress over the past two weeks and were optimistic as recently as yesterday that this may get resolved. However, despite our persistent efforts to find a private and mutually satisfactory solution, Taylor made a unilateral decision last night to enlist her fanbase in a calculated manner that greatly affects the safety of our employees and their families.

"Taylor, the narrative you have created does not exist. All we ask is to have a direct and honest conversation. When that happens, you will see there is nothing but respect, kindness and support waiting for you on the other side. To date, not one of the invitations to speak with us and work through this has been accepted. Rumors fester in the absence of communication. Let’s not have that continue here. We share the collective goal of giving your fans the entertainment they both want and deserve."

Last night (14 November), Taylor Swift added to her feud with Braun and Borchetta by posting a statement in which she wrote that Braun and Borchetta were trying to stop her from performing her previous material on television, as well as trying to deny her access to past live footage and music for a new Netflix documentary.

The same statement saw Swift claim that the two label bosses had given her "conditions" if she was to perform or use her older hits for television. She wrote, "If I agree to not re-record copycat versions of my songs next year (which is something I'm both legally allowed to do and looking forward to) and also told my team that I need to stop talking about him [Borchetta] and Scooter Braun."

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