Taylor Swift relaxes concert photo contract after snapper uproar
Taylor Swift and her managers have relaxed the pop superstar's strict concert photo contract after she was accused of having "double standards" by placing tough restrictions on professional snappers at her shows.
The Bad Blood hitmaker was widely applauded last month (Jun15) after successfully convincing Apple bosses it wasn't fair to offer fans a free three-month trial of their new streaming service without paying royalties to artists during that period.
However, Swift was subsequently branded a hypocrite by photographer
Jason Sheldon for demanding Apple not "exploit" musicians' work,
while her own management team insists professional cameramen at her
shows adhere to limited publishing rules in return for access to
her gigs.
Sheldon vented about the issue online, claiming Swift's concert
contract only allows snappers to publish pictures once before
managers claim the use of the images for free in the singer's
marketing materials.
Swift's representatives countered Sheldon's criticism by insisting
the rules are "standard" in the music industry, and claiming the
contract has been "misrepresented", adding, "It clearly states that
any photographer shooting The 1989 World Tour has the opportunity
for further use of said photographs with management's
approval."
The media fall-out has since prompted Swift's managers to rework
the contracts for her current 1989 trek with officials representing
news and photo firms in the U.S., making it clear photographers are
allowed to reuse the snaps and be clearly credited for any images
published on social media.
The move has earned Swift praise from the National Press
Photographers Association's legal counsel, Mickey Osterreicher, who
states, "Ms. Swift should be commended for showing by example her
concern not only for the rights of musicians but for the rights of
the photographers and organizations that cover her concerts.
"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 is fair to everyone
involved."