Taylor Swift wrote an open letter to Apple Music Sunday morning expressing displeasure that the company would not be paying artists and content owners any royalties during its three-month trial period.
"We know that this incredible company has the money to pay artists, writers and producers for the 3 month trial period… even if it is free for the fans trying it out," she wrote.
It didn't take long for Senior VP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue, seen above with Apple CEO Tim Cook, to take to the Twittersphere to assure Taylor and content creators everywhere that Apple Music will in fact pay artists for streaming during the free trial period. The size of their slice of the revenue pie remains to be seen.
With criticism abound of Spotify for underpaying artists, the battle for streaming supremacy has taken on a moral component. This smart move by Apple will lose them revenue in the short term but the goodwill it spawns will likely pay major dividends down the road.