Apple reverses policy after Taylor Swift criticism

Swift signalled earlier in the day that Apple's refusal to pay royalties during the initial period meant she would hold back her latest album, 1989, from availability on Apple Music.

Less than 24 hours after chart-topping singer Taylor Swift criticized Apple for not paying royalties to artists during the three-month free-trial period for its new Apple Music service, the company’s chief content czar signalled the policy has been reversed via Twitter.

“Apple will always make sure that artist are paid,” tweeted Apple’s Eddy Cue on Sunday night in a series of three tweets that called out Swift.

Cue’s response may have headed off what could have been a bruising battle for Apple during a crucial period in which Apple Music is attempting to compete with streaming services like Spotify, which knows all too well what it’s like to be on the receiving end of Swift’s ire. Swift signalled earlier in the day that Apple’s refusal to pay royalties during the initial period meant she would hold back her latest album, 1989, from availability on Apple Music.

“I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company,” she wrote on her Tumblr page.