Who is Scott Borchetta? Taylor Swift drama explored as Swifties slam record executive over tribute post

Scott Borchetta, the founder of Big Machine Records, posted a picture to commemorate the day he discovered Taylor Swift 20 years ago. He shared a throwback picture on Instagram on Sunday, November 3, 2024, writing:

“Today marks the 20th anniversary of my first meeting with Taylor. A day that changed both of our lives. This photo was taken two nights later at the Bluebird Cafe. You see the back of my head, bottom left, T, and then Andrea Swift across the room. Always proud of the art and the work she did while we were together… and just as proud of her now. Keep crushing it… xx.”

As soon as Scott Borchetta's message went viral, several social media users slammed him, recalling the scandal that took place between him and Swift in 2019.

Taylor Swift was signed as the first artist to Big Machine Records in 2005, when she was just 14 years old. However, in June 2019, she publicly expressed her frustration after learning that her music catalog had been sold as part of a $300 million deal when Scooter Braun acquired Big Machine Label Group from founder Scott Borchetta.

For the unversed, Scott Borchetta, the owner of Big Machine Records, has served as an in-house mentor on American Idol for two seasons. He was once a race car driver. As per Taylor Swift Fandom, Borchetta met Taylor in 2014 and asked her to join his label instantly.

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“It was either investing in my past or my and other artists’ future”— Taylor Swift’s old statement revisited as Scott Borchetta posted about discovering Swift

The deal between Scott and Scooter caused quite a stir, although Swift later explained to Vogue in August 2019 that she hadn’t tried to buy back her master recordings herself. At the time, Taylor Swift stated:

“It was either investing in my past or my and other artists’ future, and I chose the future.”

At the time, Taylor Swift made a post on Tumblr where she called Braun an “incessant, manipulative bully.” She also questioned the loyalty of the men involved, stating that these men, which included Scott and Scooter, were "controlling a woman who did not want to be associated with them."

Later, Swift publicly slammed Scott and stated that he was not letting her perform her old songs during the American Music Awards. In response, Scott Borchetta released a statement on social media, claiming:

“Out of courtesy, I personally texted Taylor at 9:06 pm, Saturday, June 29th to inform her prior to the story breaking on the morning of Sunday, June 30th so she could hear it directly from me. Taylor and I remained on very good terms when she told me she wanted to speak with other record companies and see what was out there for her. I never got in her way and wished her well."

Scott Borchetta continued:

"Taylor had every chance in the world to own not just her master recordings, but every video, photograph, and everything associated with her career. She chose to leave.”

Due to the deal, she then re-recorded some of her albums fully so that she could be the sole owner of the rights to the albums. Speaking to Good Morning America in 2019, Taylor Swift said:

“It’s something that I’m very excited about doing because my contract says that starting November 2020, so next year, I can record albums 1-5 all over again. I’m very excited about it because I think that artists deserve to own their work. I just feel very passionately about that.”

Furthermore, as Swifties continued to bash the record label founder, Scott has not yet commented on the fiasco. At the same time, Taylor Swift has also remained silent and has not spoken about the social media post.