I get that some might not like her music, or whatever. But I've never seen a more fan-friendly artist, nor one with more integrity.

Case in point: Apple's new streaming service will be available with a free 90-day trial. However, Apple planned to not pay any artists you listen to during that free trial. I guess they figured if they weren't getting paid, no one else should get paid either.

This would hurt up-and-coming independent artists. It would hurt all artists, actually. So what did Taylor Swift, a multi-millionaire with no skin in the game, do? This:

I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.

This is about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt. This is about the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field…but will not get paid for a quarter of a year’s worth of plays on his or her songs.

Whilst we understand the logic of [Apple’s] proposal and their aim to introduce a subscription-only service, we struggle to see why rights owners and artists should bear this aspect of Apple’s customer acquisition costs.

But I say to Apple with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.

http://jezebel.com/taylor...1712922177

And what did Apple do in response? This:

Less than 24 hours after Ms. Swift complained publicly that Apple was not planning to pay royalties during a three-month trial period of its new streaming music service, the company changed course, and confirmed that it will pay its full royalty rates for music during the free trial.

“When I woke up this morning and read Taylor’s note, it really solidified that we need to make a change,” Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet software and services, said in an interview late Sunday.

http://www.nytimes.com/20....html?_r=0

Bravo, Miss Swift! Well done!

I love her.