Big Machine's Scott Borchetta Responds to Taylor Swift's Blog Post: "It's Time For Some Truth"

Taylor Swift is speaking out after her former label, Big Machine Records, was sold to talent manager Scooter Braun for $300 million. Swift split from the label in November 2018, but Big Machine Records still owns the music catalog for her first six albums. In a Tumblr blog post published June 30, Swift called the sale to Braun her "worst case scenario" and said she had received "incessant, manipulative bullying" from him "for years."

"For years I asked, pleaded for a chance to own my work," Swift started her blog post, after allegedly finding out about the label's transition of ownership when the news went public. "Instead I was given an opportunity to sign back up to Big Machine Records and 'earn' one album back at a time, one for every new one I turned in. I walked away because I knew once I signed that contract, [Big Machine Records founder] Scott Borchetta would sell the label, thereby selling me and my future. I had to make the excruciating choice to leave behind my past. Music I wrote on my bedroom floor and videos I dreamed up and paid for from the money I earned playing in bars, then clubs, then arenas, then stadiums."

"I learned about Scooter Braun's purchase of my masters as it was announced to the world," she continued. "All I could think about was the incessant, manipulative bullying I've received at his hands for years."

Braun is the former manager for Kanye West and the current manager for Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato. In her blog, Swift included a screenshot of an Instagram photo Bieber posted in 2016 of himself FaceTiming with West and Braun. The caption reads: "Taylor Swift what up?" Swift cited this photo as evidence of bullying after "Kim Kardashian orchestrated an illegally recorded snippet of a phone call." She also criticized Braun's involvement when West "organized a revenge porn music video," which showed a re-creation of her naked body.

"Now Scooter has stripped me of my life's work, that I wasn't given an opportunity to buy. Essentially, my musical legacy is about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it," she said. "This is my worst case scenario."

Shortly after Swift's story went live, other musicians in the industry began to chime in with their opinions. Halsey and Iggy Azalea jumped to Swift's defense, while Bieber (who has a long-established relationship with Braun) took the opportunity to both apologize to and criticize Swift. Braun's wife came to his defense on Instagram, and Borchetta responded to Swift's allegations with a post to Big Machine Records' website that included screenshots of the notice sent to shareholders (Swift's dad, Scott Swift, used to be one) about the deal before it went through. Keep reading to see their responses.

Scott Borchetta's Response on Big Machine Records' Website
Getty | Kevin Mazur

Scott Borchetta's Response on Big Machine Records' Website

On June 30, Borchetta posted a statement to Big Machine Records' website, saying that he intended to "set some things straight." He revealed that the company alerted all shareholders (which included Scott Swift) on June 20 about an official shareholders' call about the pending deal with Ithaca Holdings. According to Borchetta, the initial call went down on June 25 and the final call occurred on June 28 with a majority of the shareholders voting yes to the deal.

"Out of courtesy, I personally texted Taylor at 9:06 pm, Saturday, June 29th to inform her prior to the story breaking on the morning of Sunday, June 30th so she could hear it directly from me," Borchetta wrote. "I guess it might somehow be possible that her dad Scott, 13 Management lawyer Jay Schaudies (who represented Scott Swift on the shareholder calls) or 13 Management executive and Big Machine LLC shareholder Frank Bell (who was on the shareholder calls) didn't say anything to Taylor over the prior 5 days. I guess it's possible that she might not have seen my text. But, I truly doubt that she 'woke up to the news when everyone else did.'"

He went on to explicitly state that Swift had the opportunity to own everything associated to her career, including her masters, videos, and recordings, but "she chose to leave."

Borchetta quoted a text he claims Swift sent him before the announcement of her move to Universal Music Group in which she allegedly said: "Owning my masters was very important to me, but I've since realized that there are things that mean even more to me in the bigger picture. I had a choice whether to bet on my past or to bet on the future and I think knowing me, you can guess which one I chose."

Borchetta also claimed that Braun "was never anything but positive about Taylor," citing instances where the music manager reached out to see if Swift would participate in Ariana Grande's Manchester Benefit Concert and March For Our Lives, both of which she refused.

Demi Lovato's Response on Instagram
Instagram | ddlovato

Demi Lovato's Response on Instagram

Yael Cohen Braun's Response on Instagram

Justin Bieber's Response on Instagram
Getty | Kevin Mazur

Justin Bieber's Response on Instagram

"Hey Taylor. First of all i would like to apologize for posting that hurtful instagram post, at the time i thought it was funny but looking back it was distasteful and insensitive.. I have to be honest though it was my caption and post that I screenshoted of scooter and Kanye that said 'taylor swift what up' he didnt have anything to do with it and it wasnt even a part of the conversation in all actuality he was the person who told me not to joke like that.. Scooter has had your back since the days you graciously let me open up for you.! As the years have passed we haven't crossed paths and gotten to communicate our differences, hurts or frustrations. So for you to take it to social media and get people to hate on scooter isn't fair. What were you trying to accomplish by posting that blog? seems to me like it was to get sympathy u also knew that in posting that your fans would go and bully scooter. Anyway, One thing i know is both scooter and i love you. I feel like the only way to resolve conflict is through communication. So banter back and fourth online i dont believe solves anything. I'm sure Scooter and i would love to talk to you and resolve any conflict, pain or or any feelings that need to be addressed. Neither scooter or i have anything negative to say about you we truly want the best for you. I usually don't rebuttal things like this but when you try and deface someone i loves character thats crossing a line." — Justin Bieber's statement on Instagram

Sia's Response on Twitter

Iggy Azalea's Response on Twitter

Todrick Hall's Response on Twitter