Apple Music changes artist pay policy after Taylor Swift letter

SAN FRANCISCO, June 22 (UPI) -- Apple has changed its mind and vowed to pay royalties to labels during a free trial period of its new streaming music service, Apple Music.

The announcement comes less than a day after Taylor Swift published a scathing critique of the multibillion-dollar company in an open letter titled "Dear Apple, Love Taylor."

Swift, who pulled her record-breaking album 1989 from Apple Music's catalog, said Apple's plan not to pay royalties to artists during a 90-day free trial period of the service was "shocking" and disappointing."

Apple executive Eddy Cue tweeted Sunday that the company had decided to compensate artists during the trial period.

"We hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple," Cue wrote.

Swift welcomed the shift, tweeting that she was "elated and relieved."

"Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us," she said.

Apple Music, which debuts June 30, is expected to compete with streaming music services like Spotify and Pandora. After the free trial period, subscribers will pay $9.99 per month for access to Apple's catalog of 30 million songs.

Swift had previously pulled her music from Spotify over artists' compensation.

The 25-year-old singer wrote in her letter that she wanted to challenge Apple Music's policy in support of emerging artists who would suffer from three months without compensation.

"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," Swift said.

Cue said that it was Swift's advocacy that had inspired Apple to reverse course.

"When I woke up this morning and saw what Taylor had written, it really solidified that we needed to make a change. And so that's why we decided we will now pay artists during the trial period," Cue told The Hollywood Reporter.

Apple Music's abrupt policy change prompted numerous Twitter jokes about Swift's possible influence on other issues.

"OK Taylor Swift, now please get Apple to put the jack at the top of the iPhone 6 instead of the bottom," joked New Yorker television critic Emily Nussbaum.

"I wonder if Taylor Swift can get something done about guns," tweeted television producer Hart Hanson.