What we can learn from the Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun feud

Those who know me well enough will second my adoration for Taylor Swift. And it isn't even new. In fact, it dates back a decade when I played 'You Belong With Me' on loop at a time when my heart was aching. 'Wildest Dreams' was the background track for my version of carpool karaoke. 'Look What You Made Me Do' vocalised many of my thoughts and more recently, it felt like a family reunion when Taylor and Katy buried the hatchet. So yeah, I'm a Swiftie.

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That also means I've read everything I could get my hands regarding the controversy about Scooter Braun and Taylor Swift. It is a pretty winding situation and if you aren't cued in, this VOX article will bring you up to speed.

TL;DR?

Big Machine Records has been acquired by Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings. Until her contract expired last year, Taylor was signed with the label. She claims Scooter has manipulated and bullied her for years and now, he essentially owns the master recordings of her 6 albums made during the period.

You're probably wondering what celebrity feuds, pop music and million dollar contracts have to do with you. Well, nothing directly but there are some learnings from the episode and you don't have to be a pop star to take them with you.

Art Isn't Easy

Be it music, painting, design or literature, art is tricky in a lot of ways. Creating it takes blood, sweat and tears and sometimes, that's the simplest part. The moment sellers, contracts and third party individuals get involved, it becomes more a business transaction than a creative process. If you're an artist in any shape or form, understand the contracts you sign, ensure they are as thorough as possible and get legal help if necessary. If you know an artist, slide into their DMs and tell them how much you enjoy their work - it's always welcome.

Bullies Don't Have A Type

You'd think bullies would be left behind when you pass out of school but unfortunately, that's far from true. Bullying comes in many forms and it isn't restricted to the burly girl who stole your tiffin in class. It's possible to find bullies in your work place or friends circle. If you are facing any kind of bullying, seek help from a parent, a sibling or a friend. It isn't something you should handle alone and besides having a shoulder to cry on, they can talk you through it and guide you on the steps to take.

Never Back Down

Standing up for yourself can be terrifying, I get it. That's especially so if you face pressure from family or society to accept the situations that be. Even so, you shouldn't be afraid to fight for yourself. Don't let your position, social standing or family background ever get in your way. If you are being manipulated, abused, bullied or harassed at work, school, college or home, speak up. Find someone you can trust like your mother, sister, best friend or cousin and tell them what you are going through. Having a support system will allow you to tackle the situation maturely.

Here are a few more articles I recommend reading for more perspective on the feud:

What everyone can learn from the $300 million deal that Taylor Swift claims ‘stripped me of my life’s work’ - Market Watch

Taylor Swift-Scooter Braun catalogue battle is about more than just music - NBC News

Like Taylor Swift, every woman faces a Justin Bieber - CNN

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