Taylor Cleared For AMAs Takeoff

• All is now right with the world, as it was announced today that Taylor Swift will indeed be able to perform that medley of her older Big Machine-era hits on the 2019 American Music Awards this Sunday, where she will be honored as the AMA’s “Artist Of The Decade.” As had been widely reported last week, Taylor had posted a letter to social media claiming that Big Machine’s Scott Borchetta and SB Projects’ founder Scooter Braun, whose parent company Ithaca Holdings, LLC acquired Big Machine Label Group in July, were preventing her from performing a medley of her earlier hits during her AMA appearance unless she agreed not to re-record her Big Machine catalog next year. A spirited back-and-forth followed, as both sides traded social media “pleasantries.”

Now comes word that Taylor has been cleared to perform those earlier songs, as dick clark productions and BMLG announced that they have reached a licensing agreement, clearing the way for Taylor’s planned performance.

A statement from Big Machine reads: “The Big Machine Label Group and dick clark productions announce that they have come to terms on a licensing agreement that approves their artists’ performances to stream post show and for re-broadcast on mutually approved platforms. This includes the upcoming American Music Awards performances. It should be noted that recording artists do not need label approval for live performances on television or any other live media. Record label approval is only needed for contracted artists’ audio and visual recordings and in determining how those works are distributed.”