The Bad Blood between singer Taylor Swift and concert photographers is history – unless she writes a song about it.
Swift’s legal team has agreed to revise the photography contact for her 1989 World Tour after a widely reported backlash from photographers and boycotts of some of her shows.
They were reacting to Swift’s open letter to Apple complaining about its initial decision to not pay artists during the trial period of Apple Music. Apple backed down. Photographers, however, called her a hypocrite because of an overreaching photo agreement that gave her unlimited free use of any photos taken at her show, plus the right by members of her team to forcibly remove images from their cameras.
The Poynter Institute on Tuesday reported that language from the contract was removed or rewritten after negotiations between Swift and news organizations and professional photography associations.
“After taking the time to hear our concerns regarding her world tour photography guidelines agreement, the news and professional associations and Taylor’s team are very pleased to have been able to work together for a revised agreement that’s fair to everyone involved, Mickey Osterreicher, general counsel for the National Press Photographers Association, said in a story published on Poynter’s website.
Gone from the contract, according to the Poynter story, are the threat on a photographer’s equipment and a prohibition from a photographer or news agency from future use of photos made at concerts. Swift’s team has also agreed to give proper credit to photojournalists should the singer use any photos.
After Swift’s very public rebuke of Apple on her Tumblr page, British concert photographer Jason Sheldon went on a rant of his own on his website, accusing Swift of a contract “granting you the rights to exploit our work for your benefit for all eternity . . . How are you any different from Apple?”
In the weeks after Sheldon’s post went viral, newspapers in Ireland and Montreal refused to assign photographers to her shows because of the photo agreement.
David Pierini is a former newspaper writer and long-time photographer. Considered a luddite by most of his friends, they did not believe him when he broke the news that he would be writing for a technology website. He is fascinated by human nature and would love to cultivate stories about the people driving the tech bus. Reach out to him at [email protected].
9 responses to “Taylor Swift rips up contract that was ripping off photographers”
Thank you to team Swift. I know everyone is looking forward to reading the new contract and moving forward with a mutually beneficial relationship between artists. Hear that Foo Fighters? Beyoncé? Grabbing image rights does 0% to add control or protection for the artists.
Do you pay the artist any royalties when you sell photographs of them performing at a concert or are you just pocketing the money for yourself?
I am sent in by clients who I require get all clearances ahead of time and I do not sell my images to the public as the licensing costs me more in time than I can make off the work. If any client is interested in using my images I require them to obtain all licensing and releases, which includes paying royalties for commercial/promotional uses. If they can’t provide proof, they don’t get the images.
Now the media does not pay the artist (the First Amendment of the US Constitution which insures media can run news that contains news worthy people), but in turn, the artist doesn’t pay for their media coverage either. So to answer your question, yet again, I adhere to the laws and rights of the states in which I work, as well as any federal copyright that may apply. Try again.
This doesn’t support your last sentence in any way. You REALLY don’t understand this at all!
Taste The -in-f-m–a– – < www.NetCash9.Com
Some great Apple related news reporting…
You weren’t paying attention enough…
Below art, there is service. Below service, there is function. Photography of this kind is function – dig the ditch or the next ditch digger will be called in.
Took her long enough