UPDATE 9/13 12:40 p.m. ET: Not what it looks like. Sheryl Crow responded to claims that she was “downplaying” Taylor Swift’s masters drama with Scooter Braun on the Thursday, September 11, episode of Watch What Happens Live.
Crow, 57, took to her Twitter on Thursday, September 12, to explain that she stands by Swift, 29, amid the latter’s feud with Braun, 38, and her previous record label, Big Machine Records.
“To those who thought I was downplaying @taylorswift13 ’s masters changing hands, I chose the wrong word,” she wrote. “I should have said I don’t know what the situation is instead of the word stink which sounds extremely negative. I have total respect for Taylor & always wish the best for her.”
The “If It Makes You Happy” singer also posted a video in bed where she further clarified her comments about the tension between the 10-time Grammy winner and the SB Projects Founder.
“To be honest, I don’t generally weigh in on other celebrities because I don’t keep up with celebrity news. So when I said, ‘I didn’t know what the stink was about it,’ I meant, ‘I didn’t know what the situation was about,’” Crow said. “I totally support Taylor. I think she does great humanitarian work. She’s outspoken politically. And she’s an awesome songwriter. So all the stuff about the masters, I don’t know what her situation was.”
Original story below:
Speaking out. Sheryl Crow got candid about the drama behind talent manager Scooter Braun’s purchase of Taylor Swift’s former label, Big Machine Records, and her masters on Wednesday, September 11.
During Crow’s appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, a caller asked the country singer of her “reaction to all the drama” surrounding Swift and Braun. (Crow joined Big Machine Records in February, months before Braun bought it.)
“I’m going to be honest with you … I live with my head in a big hole and I stay out of that world,” Crow, 57, said. “I will say one thing about masters, like, I signed with a record label 30 years ago and within five years, it became owned by Interscope and then Interscope got bought by Universal. So these things, that’s just the way the business goes. That’s totally not unusual for your masters to change hands like 9,000 times.”
The “If It Makes You Happy” singer continued, “I don’t know what the big stink was. I’m kind of out of the loop, so I don’t really know.”
Swift made headlines when she took to her Tumblr on June 30 to call out Braun. She deemed the 38-year-old’s purchase of Big Machine Records her “worst case scenario,” noting that “this is what happens when you sign a deal at fifteen to someone for whom the term ‘loyalty’ is clearly just a contractual concept.”
“I walked away because I knew once I signed that contract, [Big Machine Records CEO] Scott Borchetta would sell the label, thereby selling me and my future,” Swift, 29, wrote. “I had to make the excruciating choice to leave behind my past. Music I wrote on my bedroom floor and videos I dreamed up and paid for from the money I earned playing in bars, then clubs, then arenas, then stadiums.”
The multi-Grammy winner concluded, “Thankfully, I am now signed to a label that believes I should own anything I create.”
Swift’s explosive post divided the music industry, causing artists like Halsey and many of Braun’s clients — including Justin Bieber and Demi Lovato — to speak out. Despite the drama, Braun praised the Pennsylvania native’s latest album, Lover, after its release.
“Regardless of what has been said the truth is you don’t make big bets unless you are a believer and always have been. Brilliant album with #Lover,” Braun tweeted on August 23. “Congrats @taylorswift13. Supporting was always the healthier option. #brilliantalbum #brilliantcampaign congrats.”
