Taylor Swift has been named artist of the year for the third time in a row at the American Music Awards but was not present to receive the honour in person as she is currently re-recording her back catalogue. This comes after an audacious move by music mogul Scot Braun who sold what he owns of Swift's back catalogue to a private equity firm. Figures bandied around say that they fetched a figure of about 4 billion rands
Swift has stated on social media that her team were not allowed to enter negotiations to buy her music from him unless she signed a non-disclosure agreement. (NDA) She has been fighting for control of her original recordings since Braun bought a large number of them last year.
Her statement on social media said that before she had a chance to negotiate a deal for her music, Braun's team wanted her to agree to an "ironclad NDA stating I would never say another word" about him "unless it was positive".
Swift went on to say: "So I would have to sign a document that would silence me forever before I could even have a chance to bid on my own work. My legal team said that this is absolutely NOT normal, and they've never seen an NDA like this presented unless it was to silence an assault accuser by paying them off."
She added they would "not even quote my team a price" and "these master recordings were not for sale to me".
She delivered her acceptance speech remotely and affirmed to her fans that she is in the studio working on new versions of some of her biggest hits.
Swift has won the award a record six times in total, she said it meant a lot to her that it is voted for by fans.
Watch her acceptance speech right here.
BIG congratulations to @taylorswift13! Shes taking home the award for Artist of the Year! #AMAs pic.twitter.com/XfBOTPU5Nc
— American Music Awards (@AMAs) November 23, 2020
