A decision by Max Martin and Shellback could cost Taylor Swift rights to some of her master recordings. The legendary Swedish hitmakers and producers are the creative force behind several of the pop icon’s chart-toppers. Their latest move, therefore, puts a lot at stake for Swift and many other musicians.
What the Max Martin and Shellback catalog deal means for Taylor Swift’s songs
Max Martin and Shellback sold their catalog to an investment firm, and the deal has specific implications for Taylor Swift’s songs.
Entertainment attorney Bradfield Biggers told Page Six that the super-producers, via their songwriting collective Wolf Cousins, struck a strategic partnership with HarbourView Equity Partners, selling a portion of their publishing rights.
The deal covers future income from the song compositions written or co-written by Martin, Shellback, and their team. However, the head of Halloran Farkas + Kittila LLP’s Entertainment, Media & Music Practice noted that the agreement doesn’t seem to impact the “Lover” hitmaker’s ownership or control of her masters.
Taylor Swift’s actual sound recordings were never part of the sale. She reclaimed the masters to her first six albums in May 2025 and retains full rights to her re-recordings and every release since 2018.
“But depending on exactly what HarbourView acquired and how the relevant publishing and administration agreements are structured, it could give HarbourView a say in certain uses of songs written with Max Martin, Shellback, or other Wolf Cousins writers,” Biggers added.
“That matters when a particular use requires clearance of both the master recording and the underlying composition, such as a film or TV placement, an ad campaign, certain social-media uses, or other synchronization opportunities,” he explained.
The Wolf Cousins’ deal with HarbourView reportedly covers Swift tracks like “Style” from 1989 and “…Ready for It?” from Reputation. It also holds defining tracks such as “Can’t Feel My Face,” “Into You,” and “No Tears Left To Cry.”
On Wednesday, June 24, sources told Variety that the acquisition cost landed in the low nine figures. The firm declined to confirm the valuation or disclose the terms of the agreement.
