Apple Genuflects To Taylor Swift

Lots of artists and music industry figures protested after Apple said that it wouldn't pay royalties to artists and record labels for music that was played during a free, three-month trial of its new streaming music service. But it took Taylor Swift to get Apple to back down -- and quickly too, announcing over the weekend that it was reversing its position, just hours after the pop superstar criticized them online in an open letter in which she described the company's stance as, quote, "shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company."

Apple senior vice president Eddy Cue told the Associated Press, "When I woke up this morning and I saw Taylor's note that she had written, it really solidified that we needed to make a change." Notably, Swift hadn't just slammed Apple's plans, but also said she wouldn't allow her latest album, 1989, on the service because of it. In her letter, Swift wrote, "We don't ask you for free iPhones. Please don't ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation." Cue said that he spoke to Swift personally to tell her they'd changed their minds and would pay royalties during the free trial period. Swift has acted on the issue of artist compensation before, pulling her catalog from Spotify last year over its free, ad-supported tier. Do you think Swift is the most powerful artist in the music business right now?

Do you approve of how she's been using her power to support artist compensation, first with Spotify and now with Apple and what do you make of how quickly Apple folded to her? And what do you think her statement that people don't ask Apple for free iPhones so artists' music shouldn't be given away for free is a legitimate comparison or not?