Why Burna Boy and Taylor Swift Spent Millions to Own Their Masters

In today’s music industry, owning your “masters” has become one of the biggest power moves an artist can make. From global superstar Taylor Swift to Nigerian Grammy winner Burna Boy, major artists are spending millions of dollars to buy back the rights to their original recordings. But why is this so important?

What Are Masters?

A master recording is the original, final version of a song — the exact version that gets streamed, played on the radio, licensed for films, or sold worldwide. Whoever owns the master controls how the song is used and earns money from it.

Traditionally, record labels own the masters. This is because labels invest money in recording, marketing, and promoting artists. In return, they keep ownership of the music.

Why Artists Want Their Masters

The main reason artists fight to own their masters comes down to money and control.

When a label owns the masters, it collects revenue from streaming and sales first. The label deducts expenses — such as marketing costs and advances paid to the artist — before paying the artist royalties. This means an artist can have a global hit and still not see significant earnings right away.

Owning masters changes that. It allows artists to:

• Control how their music is used

• Earn directly from streaming and licensing

• Decide whether to sell or keep their catalogue

• Protect their work from being sold without their permission

Taylor Swift’s Battle for Control

Taylor Swift’s situation brought global attention to the issue of master ownership. In 2019, her former label sold the masters of her first six albums without her consent. Swift publicly expressed frustration and described the sale as a worst-case scenario.

After being unable to buy them back initially, she began re-recording her albums and releasing them as “Taylor’s Version” to regain control of her music. In 2025, she reportedly repurchased her catalogue in a deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Her case highlighted how much power lies in owning master recordings.

Burna Boy’s Move

Similarly, Burna Boy reportedly spent millions to buy back the masters of the music he released under Aristokrat Records between 2010 and 2014. The deal gave him control over the early songs that helped launch his career.

However, the transaction has since been challenged in court by 960 Music Group, which claims it owns 40% of Aristokrat Records and was not informed about the sale. The legal battle will determine whether the purchase was properly executed.

Despite the dispute, the intention behind the move is clear: ownership means control.

Music Catalogues as Big Business

Beyond control, there is also a strong financial reason for buying back masters. Music catalogues have become extremely valuable assets. Investors and companies are paying hundreds of millions of dollars for the rights to popular songs.

Artists like Bruce Springsteen, Justin Bieber, and Britney Spears have sold their catalogues for massive sums. Owning masters allows artists to either keep earning from their music long term or sell it for a significant payout.

A Symbol of Power

In addition to money, owning masters has become a status symbol in the music world. It represents independence, business intelligence, and full control over one’s career. Many artists proudly speak about owning their masters as a sign of success.

The Bigger Picture

For artists like Burna Boy and Taylor Swift, buying back their masters is about more than pride. It is about securing their financial future, maintaining creative control, and protecting the value of their work.

In an industry where ownership determines power, masters are not just recordings — they are assets, leverage, and long-term investments.