It's been less than a week since Taylor Swift alleged that her former label Big Machine, now owned by Scooter Braun, is trying to block her from performing her old songs on television. (Specifically, at the upcoming American Music Awards, airing this Sunday, Nov. 24.)
Don’t know what else to do
In the process, as many of her celebrity peers have spoken out to defend Taylor, the situation has somehow gotten weirder.
Exhibit A: Big Machine just issued a statement saying that the label has consulted with Dick Clark Productions, the company behind the AMAs, on Taylor's upcoming performance.
The Big Machine Label Group and Dick Clark Productions announce that they have come to terms on a licensing agreement that approves their artists' performances to stream post show and for re-broadcast on mutually approved platforms. This includes the upcoming American Music Awards performances.
The label also suggested that Taylor can perform her old songs whenever she wants.
It should be noted that recording artists do not need label approval for live performances on television or any other live media. Record label approval is only needed for contracted artists' audio and visual recordings and in determining how those works are distributed.
Exhibit B: Dick Clark Productions, the producers of the AMAs, released their own statement saying Big Machine never worked out the details with the company.
At no time did Dick Clark Productions agree to, create, authorize or distribute a statement in partnership with Big Machine Label Group regarding Taylor Swift's performance at the 2019 American Music Awards. Any final agreement on this matter needs to be made directly with Taylor Swift's management team. We have no further comment.
So will Taylor be performing her old material at the AMAs or not?? Taylor has yet to make another statement so we may have to wait and see.
This is all the more reason to tune into the AMAs on ABC this Sunday at 5 pm PT — with some popcorn in hand.
