Taylor Swift's Manager Exposes Drama: 'No One Stole Her Music'
Taylor Swift's Former Manager Spills All: Scooter Braun Was a Genius, Taylor Was "Piling On"
In a bombshell interview that's set to air next Tuesday on Channel 4, Taylor Swift's former manager Rick Barker is calling out his former protégée for what he claims was a misguided public feud with Scooter Braun and Big Machine Records. The juicy revelations are sure to spark debate among Swifties and non-Swifties alike.
According to Barker, who managed Swift between 2007-2008, the pop star's decision to publicly condemn Braun over the ownership of her master recordings was a "pile-on" that went too far. "No one stole her music," he insists, adding that the record deal she signed at the time was standard industry practice.
Barker's comments come as Swift is set to release her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, and it seems like he's trying to stir up some pre-album buzz. He claims that Braun made a "very good business decision" when he purchased Big Machine Records for $330 million in 2019, and that Swift should have kept the dispute private.
But what really gets Barker riled up is the impact of Swift's public feud on Braun and his team. "Death threats started happening, people showed up at their houses," he claims, adding that this was a conversation that should have been had behind closed doors. Ouch!
Barker also dished about the infamous 2009 VMAs moment when Kanye West stormed the stage during Swift's acceptance speech, hijacking the mic to declare Beyoncé the rightful winner. Barker claims he was actually "proud" of West for sparking a conversation that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.
In the same interview, Barker reveals some never-before-seen footage of his time with Swift, including an early recording where she opens up about being excluded and alienated by her peers in middle school. It's clear that these childhood experiences had a lasting impact on the pop star's confidence and drive to succeed.
When asked about their relationship, Barker gushes about how he and Swift were like "two girlfriends" who cracked each other up all the time. He even claims that she was just 16 when they met and wanted to sell 500,000 records – a goal that seemed ambitious at the time but ultimately led to her superstardom.
The Channel 4 documentary, which airs next Tuesday ahead of Swift's new album release, promises to give fans an intimate look into the singer's life and career. With Barker's explosive comments now out in the open, it seems like this is going to be a juicy one!
As for Swift herself, reps have been contacted for comment but so far, no word has been received.
In related news, fans are eagerly awaiting Swift's new album, which promises to bring some much-needed positivity and uplift to her devoted fanbase. Will this new release signal the end of her public feud with Braun? Only time will tell! Stay tuned for more updates from The Scholarly Note.
Update: We've added some extra context to clarify that Barker was Swift's personal manager between 2007-2008, but not employed by her in 2009. Also, to note that Barker still works with Big Machine Records alongside some of its artists, including Swift herself after she left the label in 2018.
We'll keep you posted on any further developments from this drama-filled world of music!