The latest album release from Big Machine Records will likely not draw in major streaming numbers. On Thursday, the label’s former artist Taylor Swift posted a message on Insta Stories denouncing the new live album by the country-turned-pop singer, singling out owner Scooter Braun and making it clear to her millions of Swifties that the record was not endorsed by Swift in any way.In a post captured by fans, Swift writes "Hey guys — I want to thank my fans for making me aware that my former record label is putting out an 'album' of live performances of mine tonight. This recording is from a 2008 radio show performance I did when I was 18. Big Machine has listed the date as a 2017 release but they're actually releasing it tonight at midnight.”Titled
Live From Clear Channel Stripped 2008, the new album is currently available on
Spotify and
Apple Music and includes eight performances from Swift. The popstar's biggest singles at the time, including “Love Story,” “Fearless,” “Teardrops On My Guitar” and “Picture to Burn,” all appear on the live album."I'm always honest with you guys about this stuff so I just wanted to tell you that this release is not approved by me,” Swift continued. The singer references the massive deal that manager Scooter Braun and his financial backers made with Big Machine Records in 2019 when buying the label and Swift’s entire back catalogue. “It looks to me like Scooter Braun and his financial backers, 23 Capital, Alex Soros and the Soros family and the Carlyle Group have seen the latest balance sheets and realized that paying $330 MILLION for my music wasn't exactly a wise choice and they need money.”Ending the message with a final nail in the coffin of the album's success and eliminating any chance a true Swiftie will purchase or stream the release, Swift writes “In my opinion…just another case of shameless greed in the time of coronavirus. So tasteless, but very transparent." Oh yeah, she went there.Swift signed with Big Machine Records in 2006 at age 15, but left the label after years of fighting over ownership of her masters. Swift signed with Universal Music Group and released her Grammy-nominated album
Lover in 2019 under her new label, marking the first time Swift owned her own master recordings. In June 2019, Braun acquired Big Machine Records, a move that Swift said was her “worst-case scenario.” Swift has accused Braun, who manages Justin Bieber and Kanye West, of contributing to her public bullying throughout the years. The feud has played out publicly, including Swift's claim that Braun was blocking her from performing her own music during last year’s
American Music Awards performance, where she received the Artist of the Decade award.Refusing to be silenced, Swift acknowledged the feud in her music video for “
The Man” and took aim at Braun during her acceptance speech at the Billboard Women in Music Event in December, where she was awarded Woman of the Decade. Swift stated that she was never given the opportunity to buy her own music, a claim made by Braun. Also contrary to his public statements, Swift said Braun never tried to reach out to her. “And let me just say that the definition of the toxic male privilege in our industry is people saying, ‘But he’s always been nice to me,’ when I’m raising valid concerns about artists and their rights to own their music. And of course he’s nice to you. If you’re in this room, you have something he needs,”
Swift told the crowd.Braun has yet to respond to Swift's post, but the singer’s fans have already made it clear that they will not stream the new album. This comes just days after Swift announced that she has made the difficult decision to cancel her
Lover Tour for 2020. No tour and fans are still willing to ignore a new album? Now that’s love.
[video_embed id='1941372']Before you go: Johnny Orlando’s first concert made him fall ‘in love’ with Taylor Swift[/video_embed]
