Former MTV Chief: Beyonce, Taylor Swift were crying over Kanye interruption
Toffler, who headed up MTV at the time, says his favorite VMA moment was being at the center of Kanye’s interruption of Swift at the 2009 VMAs. West interrupted Swift’s speech saying:
Yo, Taylor, I’m really happy for you — I’mma let you finish — but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!
Toffler:
When Kanye walked up onstage with Taylor [Swift] that year, it turned out that Taylor had to go onstage to do her song five minutes later. I ran out of the truck to see that everything was all right, and Taylor and her mom were crying hysterically. I’m not always wonderful with emotions. I didn’t know what to say. Then I went backstage, and Beyonce was crying, too.
No new music in October
Swift denies she’ll be releasing new music in October, even though that would have kept her on the schedule she’s maintained ever since she first released her self-titled debut.
Taylor Swift mashup
Swift comments on Hall’s 4 Taylor by Todrick Hall mashup, which features her hits Blank Space, Style, Shake It Off, Love Story, and You Belong With Me.
https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/646216022148583426/
Dances with seven-year-old fan
Barnes and Swift have a Shake It Off dance party.
https://instagram.com/p/76-loRDvL-/
Counters ‘colonial fantasy’ criticism
In response to critics who have complained that Swift’s Wildest Dreams video is a”colonial fantasy” Kahn says there were black Africans in the video in background shots but that it would have been “historically inaccurate to load the crew with more black actors as the video would have been accused of rewriting history.” He also notes that the video’s producer and editor are both African-American.
There is no political agenda in the video. Our only goal was to tell a tragic love story in classic Hollywood iconography.
Will meet Hariss’ parents
Harris is ready to introduce Swift to his family after just four months of dating. Sources:
They’re planning a trip to the UK with a few days in Scotland so she can meet his parents…This is the real thing. Taylor spent a long time being single, waiting for the right guy like him…Her parents love him. They think he’s the greatest.
Trade comments on VMA nomination
Swift and Minaj trade comments on Twitter due to Minaj being not nominated for a VMA for Anaconda, while Swift was nominated for Bad Blood.
Minaj: If your video celebrates women with very slim bodies, you will be nominated for vid of the year
Swift: I’ve done nothing but love & support you…It’s unlike you to pit women against each other. Maybe one of the men took your slot…
Minaj: Huh? U must not be reading my tweets. Didn’t say a word about u. I love u just as much. But u should speak on this. I’m still confused as to why u just tweeted me when I made it abundantly clear…
Accepts Swift’s request to pay artists
Responding to Swift’s comments, the company agrees to pay artists during the three-month trial period.
We hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 22, 2015
Swift responds:
https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/612841136311390209
Criticizes Apple Music’s non-payment of artists
In the note titled To Apple, Love Taylor, Swift criticizes Apple Music’s free three-month trial for users, a period of time in which the service will not compensate artists for what is streamed.
I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.
This is not about me. Thankfully I am on my fifth album and can support myself, my band, crew, and entire management team by playing live shows. This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success. This is about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt. This is about the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field…but will not get paid for a quarter of a year’s worth of plays on his or her songs…
…Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing. I say this with love, reverence, and admiration for everything else Apple has done. I hope that soon I can join them in the progression towards a streaming model that seems fair to those who create this music. I think this could be the platform that gets it right.
But I say to Apple with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.
Interrupts Swift during VMAs
During the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, West interrupts Swift’s speech. Swift, who wins the award for Best Female Video (You Belong With Me), is beginning her acceptance speech when West storms the stage and takes the microphone from her.
Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’ll let you finish, but Beyoncé has one of the best videos of all time. One of the best videos of all time!
West is referring to Beyonce’s video for Single Ladies. Swift:
I was standing onstage, and I was really excited because I’d just won the award, and then I was really excited because Kanye West was onstage. And then I wasn’t excited anymore after that.
