Taylor Swift, in her ongoing mission to regain control over her work, released a new version of her iconic album “1989” on Friday. This album is significant for Swift as it marks a step in reclaiming her music, especially after a private equity firm acquired most of her catalog without her consent. The album, titled “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” features re-recorded hits like “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space,” and “Bad Blood.” Swift also includes five unreleased songs from her “Vault.”
Taking to Instagram, Swift expressed her deep affection for this album, emphasizing her connection to the year 1989 when she was born and her journey in reinventing herself in 2014 when the album was originally released.
This is Swift’s fourth re-recorded release, and it’s part of her strategy to regain control of her music after the controversial acquisition of her back catalog by Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings in 2019, which was later sold to a private equity firm. Swift has been vocal about her opposition to this move. Each re-release has seen great success, and fans were pleasantly surprised when she announced the re-recording of “1989,” citing its life-changing impact and her excitement for the vault tracks. This album is pivotal in Swift’s transition from country music to pop, earning her three Grammys and remaining her best-selling album years after its debut.