In open letter to Apple, Taylor Swift criticizes ‘shocking, terrible’ free Apple Music trial

Taylor Swift (Facebook photo)

NEW YORK — In an open letter to Apple, Taylor Swift has criticized the company’s new streaming music service for failing to pay artists for a free three-month trial.

Writing on her Tumblr page Sunday in a posting titled “To Apple, Love Taylor,” Swift said she would withhold her 2014 album “1989” from Apple Music, which launches June 30. The pop star called Apple’s plan not to compensate artists, writers or producers during the three-month trial “shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.

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Swift said she was speaking up for the music community at large, not for her own personal gain. Three months, she said, “is a long time to go unpaid.” Last November, Swift also pulled “1989” off Spotify.

Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.