Taylor Swift has finally re-released her 2014 hit album 1989 (Taylor’s Version) – leaving Apple Music users experiencing widespread disruption.
The hitmaker, 33, who slammed speculation she is bisexual in the record’s prologue, released her own version of her fifth studio album, following a spat over the ownership of her back catalogue.
In 2019, it was revealed that Scooter Braun had purchased Taylor’s original label Big Machine Label Group from then-owner Scott Borchetta, 60, for a $330 million sum – thus owning her music and meaning she hardly profits from her own tracks.
Following her strive to take back ownership of her music, she has now re-recorded and unveiled the new take on the album – leaving users of the popular Apple streaming service experienced issues downloading and streaming the new tracks.
To commemorate the major re-release, Taylor shared a series of promotional snaps of herself on the beach along with a handwritten note addressed to loyal Swifties.
She penned: ‘I was born in 1989, reinvented for the first time in 2014, and a part of me was reclaimed in 2023 with the re-release of this album I love so dearly. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the magic you would sprinkle in my life for so long.’
The star, who is dating sportsman Travis Kelce, continued by reflecting on what the work has meant to she and her fan base since its initial release nearly a decade ago.
Taylor explained: ‘This moment is a reflection of the woods we’ve wandered through and all this love between us still glowing in the darkest dark. I present to you, with gratitude and wild wonder, my version of 1989. It’s been waiting for you. Taylor.’
In the accompanying snaps, Taylor wowed as she sported a plain white tank top with blue jeans while walking barefoot with her toes in the sand.
Despite the initial technical difficulties, fans could hardly contain their joy as they got their first listen of the album.
Fans admitted they were happy to have a version of 1989 that Taylor will fully benefit from, as the rights to her first six albums were previously purchased ‘without my knowledge’ by Scooter.
After the original purchase, he since sold her masters for a reported $300million to Shamrock Holdings, who sold a minority stake to another private equity firm last year.
Many fans tweeted their live reactions to the album — particularly their thoughts about the lyrics to Taylor’s previously unreleased track Slut!
