Swift to release World Tour video only on Apple

SPH Brightcove Video
Apple Music strikes a deal to exclusively release Taylor Swift's 1989 World Tour Live concert video on December 20th.

NEW YORK • Apple has won an exclusive deal with pop star Taylor Swift to release a concert video of her recent world tour through its music streaming service Apple Music.

Ever the skilled promoter, Swift announced the deal on Sunday, her 26th birthday, on her Twitter account.

"Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes," she wrote. "I have a little surprise for you."

The 1989 World Tour Live video, directed by Jonas Akerlund, was taped two weeks ago at Swift's show at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Australia. The film, which becomes available next Sunday, includes backstage scenes and those of the many musical guests she brought onstage throughout the tour.

Her tour for her latest album 1989 finished its worldwide run last Saturday. It had more than US$240 million (S$338 million) in gross ticket sales, according to Pollstar, a trade publication that tracks concert data.

The deal deepens the ties between Apple and Swift, who in June criticised the company over its plan not to pay music royalties during free trials of Apple Music.

Within hours of her post, Apple reversed course on the royalties, and later Apple Music became the only streaming outlet to offer 1989.

Yesterday, Beats 1, Apple's Internet radio station, was also to broadcast an interview with Swift conducted by Zane Lowe, the influential BBC DJ who joined Apple this year to lead the station.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. But it follows other arrangements that Apple has struck with star musicians to publicise Apple Music and produce programming for its service.

NEW YORK TIMES

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 15, 2015, with the headline Swift to release World Tour video only on Apple. Subscribe