Apple has backed down in the face of pressure from Taylor Swift over payments to artists during free trials of its new streaming service.
Taylor Swift performing in Germany this year. Photo: AFP / FILE
Swift had pulled her hit album 1989 from the streaming service and criticised the company.
In an open letter to Apple, Swift said she was withholding the record as she was unhappy with the three-month free trial offered to subscribers.
"I'm not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months," she wrote.
She said the plan was "unfair", arguing Apple had the money to cover the cost.
"We don't ask you for free iPhones. Please don't ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation," she said.
Now Apple says it will pay artists for music streamed during trial periods.
Apple Music launches on 30 June and will cost $US9.99 per month in the United States for one person or $US14.99 for families.
After hearing news of the company's decision Swift tweeted she was "elated and relieved".
I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us.
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 22, 2015
Apple executive Eddie Cue told Billboard magazine they had already been been hearing "a lot of concern from indie artists about not getting paid during the three-month trial period" before Swift spoke out.
But he said "we never looked at it as not paying them".
- BBC
