3:01 PM PT -- You can count AOC as being firmly Team Taylor! Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez weighed in and called out Carlyle Group, the equity firm that partially backed Scooter Braun's purchase of Big Machine.
She said, "Private equity groups' predatory practices actively hurt millions of Americans. Their leveraged buyouts have destroyed the lives of retail workers across the country, scrapping 1+ million jobs. Now They're holding @Taylorswift13's music hostage."
In her post yesterday, Taylor pled with Carlyle to help her fight for her master recordings -- but still, AOC might be a bit off the mark here.
Fact is, even if Scooter hadn't purchased Big Machine ... the label would still own Taylor's masters. Taylor's ownership battle seems to be more about the contract she signed with the label.
Taylor Swift has been complaining she's been blocked from performing her early hits during the AMAs because of her old label, Big Machine, but the label tells us she's dead wrong ... Taylor can perform her entire catalog if she wants.
A Big Machine exec tells TMZ, "Taylor Swift can 100% perform all of her catalog, past and present, on the AMAs." The official adds, BM has no issue with her performance going out on the live broadcast, because it recognizes it doesn't have the right to block her. The official says, "Our confusion with her statement is that we have no legal right to stop this and have never tried. She and her team both know this."
Fact is ... Big Machine is correct. Labels can't block artists from performing any songs -- theirs or others -- live, and since the AMAs are airing live ... have at it, Taylor.
BTW ... it's interesting. Taylor performed "Shake it Off" -- a song from her Big Machine catalog -- live on "Good Morning America" on August 22.
The Big Machine exec says, "We are excited for all her fans, as all of the confusion has now been cleared up, and we now welcome Taylor to perform all of her hits on the AMAs."
Originally Published -- 7:37 AM PT