Tayor Swift, the global pop superstar, has finally regained ownership of her master recordings, six years after they were sold to music executive Scooter Braun. In May 2025, Swift purchased her music catalog from Shamrock Capital, a private equity firm that had acquired the rights from Braun in 2020 for over $400 million. Swift negotiated a deal worth an estimated $360 million, reclaiming control of her early work.
The Backstory
In June 2019, Braun's company Ithaca Holdings acquired Big Machine Records, which owned Swift's first six albums, for approximately $300 million. Swift publicly denounced the sale, calling it a betrayal. Braun later sold the catalog to Shamrock Capital in 2020. Swift then struck a deal with Shamrock to buy back the rights, finalizing the purchase in May 2025.
NBA Finals Encounter
The drama resurfaced on June 10, 2025, during Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. Swift was seated just rows away from Braun and his girlfriend, actress Sydney Sweeney, a self-proclaimed Swiftie. The seating arrangement raised eyebrows, as Swift was positioned three rows below the couple.
Social media erupted with speculation. One user commented, "I want to know if Taylor knew Scooter was behind her.....I also bet Scooter was miserable with her being there!! Ha ha." Another wrote, "Why am i just noticing Sc**** Br*** behind her." Some fans defended Swift, noting that she was focused on the game and surrounded by friends, including actress Mariska Hargitay, who played Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU.
Celebrity Presence
The Knicks' thrilling 107-106 comeback victory drew numerous celebrities, including Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Spike Lee, Larry David, Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Tracy Morgan, Michael J. Fox, Chris Rock, Jimmy Fallon, Amy Schumer, Penn Badgley, Julianne Moore, Hailey Bieber, Jeremy Strong, Rainn Wilson, Nas, Tate McRae, Keke Palmer, Alana Haim, Este Haim, and Whoopi Goldberg.
Despite the awkward proximity, Swift appeared unbothered, cheering for the Knicks alongside Hargitay. The encounter suggests that past tensions may have eased, with both Swift and Braun sharing a love for basketball.
