Kanye West may have a little more in common with Taylor Swift than he initially thought as he revealed that his music catalogue has been put up for sale without his knowledge.
The 45-year-old rapper took to his Instagram Story on Tuesday morning to respond to a report that the market is being tested for his music publishing catalogue.
He wrote: ‘Just like Taylor Swift. My publishing is being put up for my sale without my knowledge. Not for sale.’
This comes after 32-year-old Taylor’s famous feud with Justin Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun over his sale of her highly-coveted masters from the Big Machine Label Group for over a reported $300 million.
Braun’s company Ithaca Holdings LLC purchased Nashville-based independent record label Big Machine, which was founded by Scott Borchetta in 2005, in June 2019 for just above $300 million.
The deal included Swift’s catalog — from her 2006 self-titled debut to 2017’s Reputation – along with all her music videos recorded within that time frame, and her album artwork.
At the time, Swift voiced public outrage that Braun had acquired the rights to her master recordings. She called the situation a ‘worst case scenario’ and said the news made her ‘sad and grossed out’ because, in part, she claims Braun perpetuated ‘incessant, manipulative bullying’ against her for years to ‘dismantle’ her musical legacy.
As a way of fighting back, Taylor is currently in the midst of rerecording her first six studio albums as she has already done her 2006 self-titled record, 2008’s Fearless, 2010’s Speak Now, and 2012’s Red.
Unfortunately she likely will not be able to re-record fifth studio album 1989 due to a lawsuit centered around single Shake It Off as the trial date was moved to January 17, 2023.
If Kanye wanted to pull a similar move, it would be much more difficult as he would need to re-clear hundreds of samples.
Taylor and Kanye have had a longtime rivalry ever since he interrupted her acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards by famously saying, ‘I’mma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!’
Meanwhile, Kanye later made a second post of a text message conversation as he asked an an unnamed person to inquire with a person named ‘Gee’ – presumably Blueprint Group music executive Gee Roberson – who is selling his publishing.
The person replied: ‘From Gee. Fake news. Of Course every publisher wants to pitch there hardest to buy. Smh.’
This came after a Billboard report on Monday that Ye is aiming to get 35-times gross profit by selling off his publishing rights for his entire discography to the highest bidder which they report could be a potential haul of $175million.
The potential sale comes after a number of high-profile artists sold publishing rights to their work, such as Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks and Bruce Springsteen.
The music publication estimated that the songs in his catalog could generate upwards of $13.25million in publishing royalties annually and that Kanye’s share comes to $5million.
Therefore a $5million in annual income multiplied by 35 would mean a $175million valuation.
Kanye has been keeping busy has he has been battling athleticwear giant Adidas as he once again took to Instagram on Monday to address it.
The musical artist wrote, ‘Who are the real decision makers at Adidas?’ taking shots at exec Torben Schumacher.
He called Schumacher ‘a f***ing idiot’ who ‘stole my designs’ when they did ‘they did the Balenciaga collaboration without my knowledge.’
He said Adidas execs stopped his ‘Balenciaga gap shoes from going to market,’ adding ‘nobody call me and asked me if I’m sleeping.’
West continued: ‘It’s War we deaded gap now it’s Adidas time.’
West added, ‘My issue is the unfairness. I’m not trying to take advantage of Adidas. Making sure we never get taken advantage again.
‘Thank you to the owners of Harold’s for your loyalty. They told you that I wouldn’t do a deal with Adidas until me and Adidas was cool that’s some real Chicago s*** love you for that.’
In a shot at John Legend and Kid Cudi – West associates who have been critical of the rapper at times in recent years – West said, ‘I didn’t even know that there were still loyalty like that after these past few years. Love you for real.’
West on Sunday uploaded a ‘summary of restrictions’ letter onto his main Instagram page earlier on Sunday which he received after he sent a formal notice of his contract termination with Gap.
The Heartless singer, 45, who also goes by Ye, also admitted that he had no intention of renewing his contract and partnership with Adidas.
The letter the Grammy winner received stated that he was ‘restricted’ from using his Yeezy trademark or ‘other identifiable attributes’ on various other products, which prompted Ye to write in the caption of his post, ‘Welp I guess the war’s not over.’
The restrictions are on, ‘Yeezy standalone activities under licensing and endorsement agreement with Adidas and strategic agreement with Gap.’
The summary included a long list of footwear, apparel, and accessories that Kanye is restricted to incorporate his Yeezy trademark with, further explaining he cannot ‘copy or resemble designs used for Yeezy by Adidas or Yeezy by Gap products.’
The post he uploaded to his 17.2 million followers on Instagram came after his attorney sent a letter to the famous retailer announcing the termination of its partnership with Kanye, reported the Wall Street Journal.
Some main reasons listed in the letter that led to the sudden termination were due to Gap not opening stores as promised, along with not releasing apparel pieces.
A Yeezy Gap store has not opened even though the company was required to open five retail shops by July 31, 2023. It also said that the company was required to sell 40% of the Yeezy Gap merch in stores during the latter part of 2021.
Only one item from the collection went on sale last fall, and it was only available online and not in a store.
The restrictions letter sent to Kanye in response to him ending the partnership might come as a problem for the singer.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Ye expressed his intentions of working on his fashion line, ‘alone.’
‘It’s fine. I made the companies money. The companies made me money. We created ideas that will change apparel forever,’ the performer expressed.
‘Like the round jacket, the foam runner, the slides that have changed the shoe industry. Now it’s time for Ye to make the new industry. No more companies standing in between me and the audience.’
Social media users jumped to send their support to Kanye, whose Instagram page currently only contains the letter, and a list of names on the Gap Board of Directors.
One commenter wrote, ‘The war has just begun,’ while another typed, ‘These next couple weeks are about to be interesting.’
In the caption on his Board of Directors post, Kanye wrote, ‘Magically No production companies have been willing to produce my YZYSZN9 fashion show in Paris on October 3rd.’ Paris Fashion Week begins on September 26 and ends on October 4.
He uploaded a third post with the same list of names, although his caption changed to, ‘Funny that Bob Martin called me and said we are amicably ending our deal But I can’t do a fashion show but they can keep selling my product hmmmmm.’
Ye has had a past issue of not getting a board seat with the Gap retailer. He claimed that Gap cut him out of meetings as well as the creative process and does not promote the collection.
Three months after he signed the deal, Kanye threatened to withhold his line unless he got a board seat.
In August, Kanye criticized Gap and spoke to its executives directly: ‘You have to really give me the position to be Ye and let me do what I’m thinking, or I have to do the thinking somewhere else.’
Earlier this month, Kanye went on a social media blitz against the two clothing companies.
He accused Adidas of seizing creative control over the Yeezy brand and stealing his design ideas to produce shoes similar to his Boost trainers. He also claimed that the shoe company ripped off his design for slides.
‘No one should be held in that position where people can steal from them and say we’re just paying you to shut up,’ he told Bloomberg. ‘That destroys innovation. That destroys creativity. That’s what destroyed Nikola Tesla.’
He’s hammered Adidas executives with a series of mocking Instagram posts until, he claims, his lawyers stepped in and asked him to stop.
Earlier this month, after nearly a decade of collaborating together, Kanye fired a shot at Adidas for ‘blatant copying’ of his Yeezy slides.
West fired a direct shot at Kasper, stating, ‘To Kasper I’m not standing for this blatant copying no more.’
‘To all sneaker culture To every ball player rapper or even if you work at the store This is for everyone who wants to express themselves but feel they can’t cause they’ll loose their contract or be called crazy,’ he continued.
West and Adidas’ apparel and shoe deal was first announced in December 2013, with the first collection dropping in February 2015.
Last month in August, drama sparked between Kanye and GAP when he made the decision to display his new Yeezy line in garbage bags at GAP stores after critics complained that he was mocking homeless people.
The rapper told FOX News’ Eric Shawn at the time that he was just trying to challenge conventional traditions in the way we dress and make clothing that’s more egalitarian and not pretentious.
‘I’m an innovator and I’m not here to sit up and apologize for my ideas,’ Kanye said.
He also pointed out that the bags are not ‘garbage’ bags but actually construction bags and the reason for the bags is so people can informally reach in and grab what they want to buy – adding that the goal is to make life easier and informal so we can all, basically, dress in the dark.
Twitter users expressed confusion over his bizarre vision after photos were posted of his clothing stuffed in large black bags, rather than on hangers or neatly folded in piles.
The father-of-four sparked controversy for saying on his Instagram account that inspiration behind his fashion label, Yeezy, was ‘the homeless.’
In January, a Yeezy GAP spokesperson told The Post: ‘Ye has a deep and solution-oriented commitment to addressing issues surrounding homelessness.’
The Yeezy brand earned $191 billion in royalties in 2020 from the Adidas deal, according to USB Group AG. In January, it was reported that the initial estimate of sales of the Yeezy Gap line at $1 billion, per Forbes.
In July, Kanye said they sold $14 million worth of hoodies at $80 per item. He still owns a small stake in ex wife Kim Kardashian’s Skims brand.
Ye signed his Gap contract in 2010, and has eight more years left on the partnership. His collaboration with Adidas is set to end in 2026.
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