Taylor Swift may lose control of some of her biggest hits after producers Max Martin and Shellback sold their catalog to an investment firm.
Entertainment lawyer Bradfield Biggers spoke exclusively with Page Six after Martin (who collaborates on many of Swift’s songs) and Shellback’s songwriting collective Wolf Cousins announced a strategic partnership with Harborview Equity Partners.
“Although Harborview generally does not control Swift’s masters, it may have approval rights or significant influence over certain songs in its catalog that affect how Swift may use those recordings in certain circumstances,” Biggers said.
Halloran Farkas + Kittila LLP’s entertainment, media and music practice leader said the deal does not appear to affect Swift’s ownership or control of her sound recordings.
“However, depending on what Harborview acquires and how the related publishing and management agreements are structured, it could potentially give Harborview a say in certain uses of songs written with Max Martin, Shellback, or other Wolf Cousins writers,” Biggers said.
“This is important when clearance of both the master recording and its underlying composition is required for specific uses, such as film or television placements, advertising campaigns, certain social media uses, or other synchronization opportunities,” Biggers added.
Swift songs reportedly included in Wolf Cousins’ deal with Harborview include 2014’s “Style” from her album 1989 and 2017’s “…Ready for It?” From the album “Reputation”. However, this acquisition does not include all Swift songs related to Wolf Cousins.
“I wouldn’t call Harborview a partner in the Swift campaign,” Biggers explained. “However, by gaining interest in songs that are closely tied to Swift’s catalog and cultural heritage, Harborview is now financially connected to an important part of her ecosystem.”
Therefore, the value of Swift’s songs in Harborview’s portfolio is likely to rise as the pop star’s cultural influence and legacy continues to grow.
“As Swift continues to grow her brand and strengthen her status as a legendary pop artist, Harborview stands to benefit from the timeless value of those songs and Swift’s evolution from generational star to enduring figure in the pop music canon,” Biggers said.
Sources told Variety on Wednesday that the purchase price was in the low nine figures, but Harborview would not confirm or disclose terms of the deal.
“At Harbourview, we invest in culturally relevant intellectual property and the visionary creators behind it,” Sherryse Clark, CEO of Harbourview, told the outlet in a statement.
“Max Martin and Shellback continue to be hitmakers in contemporary music, and through Wolf Cousins they have built an extraordinary creative ecosystem that spans generations and genres. We are proud to partner with them and steward the legacy of this incredible catalog.”
Martin (real name Karl Martin Sandberg) and Shellback (real name Karl-Johan Schuster) founded Wolf Cousins Collective in the 2010s, which features popular songwriters such as Ilya Salmanzadeh, Oskar Holter, Tove Lo and Ludwig Söderberg.
New partnerships with private companies include Grande’s songs “Problem,” “Into You,” and “No Tears Left to Cry,” The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face,” and Imagine Drama. The list will reportedly include Gonz’s “Believer,” Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do,” Tove Lo’s “Habits (Stay High),” and DNCE’s “Cake by the Ocean.”
Swift’s first six albums were originally owned by her former record label, Big Machine Records, which was acquired by Scooter Braun in 2019.
The “Shake It Off” artist, 36, publicly opposed the sale, claiming he was not given a fair opportunity to purchase the masters.
In 2020, Brown sold his masters to Shamrock Capital, but Swift reacted cruelly by re-recording some of her older albums in “Taylor’s Version” releases in an effort to regain control over her music.
In May 2025, Swift announced that she had finally bought back all of her masters.
“Ever since I found out this is actually happening, I’ve been crying tears of joy at irregular intervals. I can truly say those words. All the music I’ve ever made…is now mine,” she announced at the time.
