Scott Borchetta reflects on Taylor Swift partnership amid backlash

Scott Borchetta owns Big Machine Records, the first label with which Taylor Swift worked. He is also the reason why Swift is releasing "Taylor's Versions," re-releases of her first six albums, the rights to which were sold by Borchetta in 2019 along with the label to Scooter Braun. Swift described Braun as an "incessant, manipulative bully." The artist stated that these two men "controlled a woman who did not want to have associations with them." It’s fair to say that Swifties—the artist’s loyal fans—do not hold much affection for Borchetta.

On 3rd November, a post appeared on Borchetta's Instagram where he recalled his first meeting with the star 20 years ago. Swift was only 14 years old at the time. She was the first artist that Borchetta signed in 2005 for his label Big Machine Records, which he founded after leaving Universal Music. The 62-year-old wrote on Instagram: "Today marks the 20th anniversary of my first meeting with Taylor. A day that changed both of our lives." He added, "Always proud of the art and work she did while we were together... and just as proud of her now."

It must be acknowledged that Borchetta is adept at moderating comments on Instagram, as no negative ones are visible among them. However, in other places on social media, Swifties express unrestrained outrage over the label owner’s post. Thousands of comments appeared, including "Stay away from her!" or more elaborate summaries like "This is ridiculous. Attention seeking. Fraud." Adding fuel to the fire was that Scooter Braun liked Borchetta's post.

Taylor Swift fans reminded social media users of her 2019 statement about how Borchetta treated her. She wrote that she learned about the sale of her original recordings only when the transaction was made public. She stated that she had tried for years to buy back her music from Big Machine Records without success.

Swift concluded, "This is my worst-case scenario. This is what happens when you sign a deal at the age of fifteen with someone for whom the term 'loyalty' is apparently only a word in a contract. And when that person says 'music has value,' they mean its value depends on men who were not involved in its creation."