Apple wins exclusive on Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’ tour film

Earlier this year in the run up to Apple Music’s release Swift denounced the service for planning not to pay artists during free, three-month trials of the service. Apple quickly reversed its position, and Swift brought her latest album, 1989, to Apple Music-an exclusive among streaming services.

“Remember when Taylor Swift and Apple didn’t get along”, wrote Recode’s Peter Kafka, “and then they patched it up, and then everything was ok?”

Selena Gomez posted a photo of the pals together on Instagram and added the caption: “I don’t know life without you Taylor”. Some of the celebrities who graced the tour include Mick Jagger, Kobe Bryant and Justin Timberlake.

Every day’s a holiday when you’re in Taylor Swift’s inner circle, but if that day also happens to be the star’s 26th birthday AND 12 days before Christmas – fuggedaboutit!

The singer said she sweated over the price she would pay for standing up to Apple over streaming music fees. She has also been critical of Apple’s payment policy for artists. Fans can listen to it on Apple’s radio station, Beats 1. Swift and Apple have encouraged a strategic relationship since she publicly denounced the company’s treatment of indie artists last summer.

A surprise announcement today said that Swift will release the live version of her album, 1989, on Apple Music, but it won’t be available for purchase or streaming anywhere else on launch.

The video content will be available exclusively through Apple Music starting December 20. Swedish director Jonas Akerlund, best known for the Grammy-winning video for Madonna’s 1998 single Ray of Light, worked on the film. Beyond that, there were an additional 8.5 million running on the service’s free trial at the time.

Having exclusive content from, and use of the likeness of, one of the world’s biggest music stars is clearly a big win for Apple.