Lessons In Earning Your Keep: How TAYLOR SWIFT Is Taking A Bite Out + Going Toe-To-Tie With Music Giant APPLE / iTunes

Those very lyrics are much like the sentiments of pop star Taylor Swift’s perhaps-when that little worm told her that Apple was about to do a dirty little slimy thing: Press pause on paying certain artists during their 3-month trial for their music streaming service beginning June 30, 2015.

As you may well know, this Tiday-Spotify-Apple (in that order) music streaming war is big, with each company trying to consolidate and coerce music fans in various unconventional ways in order to secure the win-over.

Well Apple (iTunes being the music giant that it is) was the last company entering this steaming war and where although it is the top player in selling music (via iTunes), it doesn’t have that same power in the music streaming wars against Spotify, and as Spotify’s rival; it’s working overtime to make sure Tidal can’t compete.

So while devising ~~marketing and advertising~~ freebie plans for the launch of its service (come June 30), obviously something big has to happen (in order to win over rivals Spotify and Tidal subscribers).

Well that “something big” is something Apple came up with that [due to its power over the competition in online music download/sales], when it comes to these artists, they pretty much have a monopoly and a lot of power over some moves they make (e.g., Apple/iTunes punishing artist who rolled with Tidal by sanctioning their music, or mysterious site “malfunctions” going on the website where certain artist’s music is sold–happened with Rihanna, and she is one of pop’s biggest music selling artists on their site and abroad).

(Although they denied it, any fool knows the “full-effect” works best doing the deed as “pinch” or nudge and then walk away like: “who me?” LoL).

With such an example being made out of such a big artist, that big rock sent quite the ripple and warning, a kind of “This Could Be Us” warning out to some of your favorite (lesser selling) music artists:

“Whosover be boldeth and swimmeth enough to try and jump over to Tidal’s ship, know thiseth: If this could happen to Rihanna-it could happen to you too.” (LoL at my hood-Shakesphere)

It was like a “bully-proof” the strategy my mom gave me at an early age-growing up in the hood. A strategy that I learned to use as a metaphor for life (that too, can be used figurative, or really-because it’s that broad a strategy).

While looking into my tight, chinky, teary, cried out eyes one time too many from getting bullied, she said to me-these words:

“You take the biggest, baddest, loudest m0therfcker in the crowd. And you whip her a$$. Not the lil’ other m0therfcker, but the biggest one-whip her a$$ and the rest will flee.”

After that, even when I played tetherball (although I secretly hated the fight), I wanted the biggest, best, and baddest-so that people sitting along the “waiting to play” wall, could look at me with the same fear and bring their ‘A’ game with me (like the bullies), too. I will tire you out.

Everything in life after that, even as competitive as I am not, I use that strategy by working and earning being the best at what I do, but using that strategy on who people think is the best (from behind their “fluff”). As I bypass the fluff and invitation for it, I win-win (nice and quietly)…by sending out warning shots at real work as reminders at whim…

Well, Apple is the top/best at who they are. So Apple could play that game. They hung Rihanna out there as their warning-sorta like the guy in Scarface (Omar Suarez) that got hung out the plane mid- air, you know: This will happen to you if you fck me. Remember?

RESPECT IS BOTH EARNED AND ~~DEMANDED~~ COMMANDED COMMENSURATE, AND ONLY NEGOTIABLE BY REAL WORK-NOT FLUFF.

Taylor Swift aint scared. ‘Cause let’s get something straight here.

While many artists are awesome at what they do: singing and performing etc., Taylor Swift is a different breed in that although still, a lot of artists write and produce some of their own songs, in a greater majority…Taylor does all that stuff on her own. A lot of her back end, behind the glitz and glamour monies come from what Taylor Swift has worked for, played for, wrote for, and EARNED. As thimbletoed and playful and her popularity may SEEM…has really put it WORK. Her hoopla is not all fluff and a bunch of people and fans flocking to her by who she is or has associated with or taken pictures with and dated etc. her fan base and accoutrements from her career were EARNED.

Her rumors of the sleep around, came after the work was done-she didn’t sleep around FOR her name and fame. So somebody like her can sleep around (if she wants to), because she did the work when everybody else was asleep (or sleeping ON her)…

So again, the issue is this.

For three months (beginning June 30) Apple is allow subscribers of its new streaming service to receive various artists music for free, which means the artists have to hang back and not be paid for [some of] their work (while Apple is trying to win this war). Taylor is holding back music from her hit album “1989” from this freebie.

“I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service,” Swift wrote. “I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.”

But unlike many, Taylor Swift doesn’t have to bow to no one. And so far, we haven’t heard tales of any other artists complain as yet. And to that, Taylor had this to say:

“These are not the complaints of a spoiled, petulant child,” she went on. “These are the echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much. We simply do not respect this particular call.”

See. This is a lesson in trying to get by on bull$hi\t, popularity and fluff. When that time comes around, and you aint got the REAL supply in demand (via REAL work with your name on it), you’re worthless-at the end of the day (“worthless” in that you can’t call shots or make certain moves if you do not have options.

Options (even over “access”) if really your only true freedom. You are only as rich, great, or free as you have options. The strange oxymoron about that is sometimes not even money can buy options. In some cases, what you did/do to get the money is all you have to fall back on.

So while Taylor may take millions upon millions of followers and fan with her (back to Spotify-where she removed ALL her music some time ago), or over to Tidal-should Apple play rotten, there is one ONE fact will see her through that has nothing to do with her millions of fans and followers: She has the supply in demand and will be welcomed back with open arms to Spotify and warm-welcomed to Tidal.

Either way, she wins.

So either Apple is going to have to make a decision to give her-her respect and pay, or she certainly has two other playgrounds with which to play.

I don’t know about you, but rather than playing, hiding (or seeking), I WORK to keep the supply in demand……(like Taylor Swift). Because at the end of the day, that’s what really “counts.”

The moral of the story is: Hard work will always follow you and be your friend. Because at the end of the day, when the sh|t hits the fan, that’s the only way you can really win.