Swifties May Not Get ‘Reputation (Taylor’s Version)’ After All

Singer’s Master Recording Victory Changes Re-Recording Plans

The highly anticipated re-recording of **Taylor Swift**’s 2017 album, “Reputation,” may not materialize despite her recent acquisition of her master recordings. A source close to the artist reveals a shift in priorities and a reluctance to revisit the emotional landscape of that era.

Emotional Roadblock to Re-Recording

**Swift** completed the purchase of her entire music catalog for a reported $360 million from Shamrock Capital on May 30th, a move initially intended to wrest control from previous owners and ensure she benefited from her work. However, the source indicates that the project to re-record “Reputation” was already losing momentum due to its deeply personal origins.

The album was heavily influenced by **Swift**’s relationship with then-boyfriend **Joe Alwyn**, which lasted from 2016 to 2023. The source explained, “It was about not going back to songs that were written all about falling in love with **Joe**.” Revisiting those songs now feels emotionally inaccessible.

“She cannot access that headspace now — cannot and does not want to … ‘Delicate’ and ‘Call It What You Want’ and ‘New Year’s Day’— tracks like that? Not a chance.”

—A source close to the singer

According to Billboard, the music industry saw a 16.4% increase in revenue from catalog music in 2023, demonstrating the continued financial importance of owning one’s masters. Billboard

Focus Shifts to Future Releases

**Swift** herself acknowledged the difficulty in re-creating “Reputation,” stating she “hasn’t re-recorded a quarter” of the album, and that she “kept hitting a stopping point when I tried to remake it.” The source suggests that unreleased “vault tracks” from the “Reputation” sessions might surface as part of a deluxe remastered edition coinciding with the album’s 10th anniversary in 2027.

The source further clarified that **Swift** primarily re-recorded the more assertive tracks from “Reputation,” such as “Ready for It” and “Getaway Car,” and “I Did Something Bad.” The more vulnerable love songs, however, were deemed too emotionally challenging to revisit.

**Swift** has moved on from **Alwyn** and is currently in a relationship with **Travis Kelce**, sparking engagement rumors. She has, however, successfully completed the re-recording of her self-titled 2006 debut album, declaring, “I really love how it sounds now.” The source noted that the debut album presented a different challenge—capturing the sound of her younger self proved difficult.

The re-recorded debut may be released on its 20th anniversary next year as a tribute to the original. For now, “Reputation (Taylor’s Version)” remains uncertain, a testament to the enduring power of personal history and the complexities of artistic expression.