Apple wins exclusive on Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’ tour film

WASHINGTON, DC – Taylor Swift celebrated her 26th birthday by announcing that Apple’s streaming service would show the film of her 1989 global tour.

The deal came months after Swift threatened to boycott Apple and ban it from streaming her latest album in a spat over artist compensation.

“Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes. I have a little surprise for you. #1989WorldTourLIVE@applemusic,” Swift wrote Sunday on Twitter to her 67 million followers.

Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes. I have a little surprise for you. #1989WorldTourLIVE @applemusic https://t.co/actZbWBt4R

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) December 13, 2015

A short preview of the concert film was attached to the message.

Apple in turn tweeted that the film would be “only on #AppleMusic” starting on December 20.

Apple’s Beats 1 internet radio is set to interview Swift on Monday, December 14 to discuss the deal.

Subscribers to the Apple Music service, which opened for business in June, will be able to watch the pop star performing live such hits as “Shake it Off,” “22” and “Bad Blood.”

The film focuses on her November 28 show in Sydney, Australia, and includes backstage footage from other concerts as well as guest appearances throughout the tour from stars such as Mick Jagger, Justin Timberlake and Selena Gomez.

The tour promoting her latest album 1989 had more than $240 million in gross ticket sales, the New York Times reported, citing figures from the concert data tracker Pollstar.

The 1989 tour took place across the United States and Europe, as well as in China, Japan, Australia and Singapore.

In June Swift openly protested Apple’s plan to not pay royalties to artists during customers’ three-month trial period of the company’s new streaming service. (READ: In reversal, Taylor Swift to stream on Apple)

Swift threatened a boycott, and the tech giant quickly reversed course and agreed to payments. In return Swift agreed to stream her blockbuster album “1989” on Apple Music.

Forbes magazine has ranked Swift as the world’s eighth highest paid celebrity in 2015, with earnings of $80 million. – Rappler.com