When a pop diva takes a stand, it is bound to elicit reactions especially on social media.
Taylor Swift may have got her way when she wrote an open letter to Apple expressing her dissent at Apple Music withholding royalties during the free three-month trial period (which eventually led the company to reconsider its stance). However, in the process, the Grammy winning artist has stirred a hornet's nest.
Apple may have listened to her plea but the genuineness of the act is being questioned by detractors.
I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us.
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 22, 2015
While some people like rumored boyfriend Calvin Harris are waxing eloquent on Twitter as to how Swift "just changed the entire music industry," there are others like ex-Pandora CTO Tom Conrad who did not lose any opportunity to put her down on the microblogging site.
4/ Swift's career was built on terrestrial radio play, which is a free service AND doesn't pay recording artists a dime. — Tom Conrad (@tconrad) June 22, 2015Conrad also took digs at her spat with Spotify in July 2014, where Swift eventually pulled out her entire catalog from the streaming service.
2/ Swift took her new album off Spotify not because she's not paid, but because she feels their free service "devalues music" — Tom Conrad (@tconrad) June 22, 2015
Conrad, however, did not stop at these and went on to insinuate that Swift's letter to Apple and the entire incident reeked of the two playing up to the gallery. He went on to call the incident nothing short of theatrics.
7/ Swift's letter and Apple's response is mostly theater. Nothing here to suggest Apple treats artists more fairly than anyone else. — Tom Conrad (@tconrad) June 22, 2015
However, Swift's loyal fan base and fellow artists came to her rescue on Twitter and lauded the pop singer's initiative which has led to Apple agreeing to pay up even during the free trial period.
Dream Theater's drummer Mike Portnoy tweeted in support.
I know it's been stated a million times already, but I must make it a million and one...THANK YOU @taylorswift13 YOU RULE!!!
American actor Josh Gad also quipped that he would like to have the singer negotiate all his contracts!
I'm having @taylorswift13 negotiate all of my future contracts from this point on. #AppleMusic
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) June 22, 2015
R&B singer Anita Baker too lauded Swift's efforts.
Some Artists use their success to make things better 4 themselves & Everyone else around them
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