As a business owner, you work tirelessly to build value through your ideas, your brand, and your creative output. Yet few entrepreneurs stop to ask a critical question: who truly owns the assets that make my business valuable? Taylor Swift’s journey to reclaim ownership of her music provides one of the clearest examples of why control over your intellectual property (IP) is not just a legal issue, but a foundation of freedom, power, and long-term wealth.
Her story reminds every business owner that ownership of your intellectual property provides protection, profit, and purpose. In this article, you’ll learn what “masters” represent in the business world, how Swift used contracts and creativity to regain control, and how you can apply the same principles to secure and grow your own enterprise.
What Happened and Why it Matters
To understand the significance of Swift’s decision, you first need to know what a “master” actually is. In the music industry, two copyrights exist for every song: one covers the composition, which includes the lyrics and melody, and the other covers the sound recording, or the “master,” which is the version listeners hear on streaming platforms, in films, or in advertisements. The owner of the master has the power to control how that song is distributed, licensed, and monetized.
In 2005, a fifteen-year-old Taylor Swift signed her first recording contract with Big Machine Label Group. Like most new artists, she exchanged ownership of her master recordings for the label’s financial backing, marketing, and production support. For years, this arrangement seemed fair. Swift gained fame, and Big Machine profited. Yet as her career evolved, she began to see the true cost of that agreement: she did not own her creative work.
Without ownership of her masters, Swift could not decide where her songs were licensed, how they were used, or even whether they were tied to projects that aligned with her values. This lack of control is similar to what happens when a business owner signs away rights to a brand, software, or creative process. You might still be the public face of the business, but someone else holds the key to your value.
Owning your intellectual property is not just about prestige, it is about independence. When you control your creations, you control how they evolve, how they generate income, and how they shape your reputation. The “master” in your business could be your product, your brand name, or your proprietary method, and protecting it should be at the top of your priority list.
Just as Swift realized the need to regain her creative control, every business owner must take a hard look at their contracts, trademarks, and agreements to ensure that what they build belongs to them and not to someone else.
The Conflict: Rights and Control of Intellectual Property
The real conflict over Swift’s masters began in 2019 when Big Machine Label Group was acquired by Scooter Braun’s company, which later sold her original master recordings to a private equity firm without her knowledge or consent. Overnight, the rights to the recordings that defined her career were placed in the hands of investors who had no connection to her artistry or her values.
For many business owners, this scenario may feel familiar. You build something valuable, but through an early contract or partnership, you later discover that someone else has legal control over it. The emotional and financial impact can be enormous.
Rather than accept defeat, Swift devised a creative and legally sound solution. She announced she would re-record all six albums, creating new master recordings that she would fully own. This move was not only symbolic, it was strategic. By re-recording her catalog, she undercut the market value of the old masters and encouraged fans, streaming services, and advertisers to use the new tracks instead.
Her approach transformed frustration into empowerment. Swift’s fans rallied behind her cause, helping the new versions outperform the originals in streams and sales. In May 2025, after a dispute lasting six years, she purchased the original masters outright, gaining full ownership of her catalog, videos, and creative materials.
What You Can Do Differently
Taylor Swift’s story offers more than entertainment headlines. It is a roadmap for how to manage intellectual property and protect what makes your business valuable. Here’s what to do:
Protect your core assets.
Your business’s “masters” might be your logo, product design, software code, or proprietary process. Identify what creates your value and ensure it is documented, registered, and legally owned by your company.
Use contracts to strengthen control.
Swift’s early contract gave away her ownership rights. You can avoid similar pitfalls by using clear agreements that specify who owns what, how intellectual property can be used, and under what terms it can be transferred. Always have contracts reviewed by a legal professional who understands both your business model and your long-term goals.
When you work with me as your LIFTed Business Advisor and attorney, I will review your contracts on a regular basis, create new ones when needed, and ensure you understand the terms and how your business will be impacted. I’m a trusted advisor to you and your business for the long-term. You’ll always have someone to turn to before disputes arise. Read on to learn how to book a discovery call with my office.
Create pathways to reclaim value.
If you’ve already given up ownership, it isn’t too late. Like Swift, you can create new versions of your work, renegotiate agreements, or establish fresh entities that give you greater control. The key is to treat ownership recovery as a business strategy, not an emotional reaction. I can support you with this.
Turn ownership into opportunity.
When you control your assets, you can license them, sell them, or scale them without restriction. That ownership becomes a cornerstone of your company’s valuation and exit strategy. Swift’s success illustrates how control creates both freedom and profitability.
Align all your systems.
Ownership isn’t just a legal issue; it affects your LIFT - Legal, Insurance, Financial & Tax® systems, too. If your IP is incorrectly structured, it could impact coverage, investment opportunities, or even how profits are taxed. Review your systems holistically to ensure your business foundation is secure across every LIFT area.
Business owners who understand and protect their intellectual property can create wealth that lasts long after their initial idea. Swift didn’t just reclaim her songs; she redefined the power dynamic in her industry. That’s exactly what happens when you secure your IP assets.
Applying Taylor Swift’s Example to Your Business
Every entrepreneur can apply Taylor Swift’s ownership strategy to their own company, and as your LIFTed Business Advisor and attorney, I can help you do just that. Together, we’ll begin with a comprehensive audit to uncover the assets that truly drive your business value - your brand, proprietary processes, creative content, client relationships, and systems. I’ll help you determine exactly who owns each of these assets, how they are protected, and where hidden risks might be leaving your business vulnerable.
Once we have clarity, I’ll guide you in securing full ownership and protection of what’s yours. This may include registering trademarks, updating contracts with partners, clarifying IP rights with vendors or contractors, and structuring your agreements to prevent future ownership disputes. If you’ve already given up ownership of certain assets, I can help you create a legal and strategic plan to bring those assets back under your control or build new ones that you can fully own.
Finally, we’ll take the long view: your business legacy. Swift’s decision was about more than profits; it was about preserving integrity, reputation, and long-term influence. I’ll help you build systems that ensure your intellectual property, brand reputation, and creative assets remain protected and profitable for generations. Ownership doesn’t just secure your company’s present; it defines how your brand lives on, how your income flows, and how your business evolves long after you step away.
What To Do Now
Taylor Swift’s story is more than a celebrity success tale. It is a case study in how smart strategy, persistence, and legal foresight can transform your business. When you let someone else own what you create, you give up control over your brand, your legacy, and your future. But when you claim ownership, you position yourself to direct your value, protect your profits, and build a business that endures.
If you are ready to take full ownership of your company’s assets and ensure that your business is built on a strong foundation, schedule a LIFT Business Breakthrough™ Session today. During this in-depth session, we’ll evaluate your LIFT - Legal, Insurance, Financial, and Tax - systems to uncover hidden risks, identify gaps, and develop a customized action plan to fill the gaps and ensure your business is healthy and protected. You’ll leave with peace of mind knowing I’ve got your back and your mind is free to do what you do best - build a business that reflects your values and has a positive impact in the world.
Schedule a complimentary 15-minute Discovery Call today.
This article is a service of a Personal Family Lawyer® Firm and LIFTed Advisors® Attorney. I offer a complete spectrum of legal services for businesses and can help you make the wisest choices with your business throughout life and in the event of your death. I also offer a LIFT Business Breakthrough Session, which includes a review of all the legal, financial, and tax systems you need for your business. Call us today to schedule.
The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.
We offer a complete spectrum of legal services for business owners and can help you make the wisest choices on how to deal with your business throughout life and in the event of your death. We also offer you a LIFT Your Life And Business Planning Session, which includes a review of all the legal, insurance, financial, and tax systems you need for your business. Schedule online today.