No, Taylor Swift's dad did not buy a record label. This is a common misconception that has circulated on social media and various news outlets. Scott Swift, Taylor's father, did make a small investment in Big Machine Records in 2004, but he did not purchase the label.

According to public records and verified sources, Scott Swift purchased a 3% stake in Big Machine Records for $120,000 when the label was first established. This investment was made around the time Taylor Swift signed her initial recording contract with the label at age 15.

It's important to note that this minority stake did not give Scott Swift any controlling interest or ownership of the record label. Big Machine Records was founded and primarily owned by Scott Borchetta, who served as its CEO until the company's sale to Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings in 2019 for approximately $300 million.

The confusion about Scott Swift's involvement with Big Machine Records has often been used to create narratives about Taylor Swift's early career advantages. However, the reality is that his investment was relatively modest and typical of what many music industry professionals might invest in a startup label.

Here are the key facts about Scott Swift's involvement with Big Machine Records:

- Invested $120,000 in 2004
- Owned approximately 3% stake
- Had no operational control
- Was a passive investor
- Did not participate in day-to-day operations

Taylor Swift has since moved on from Big Machine Records and now records under Republic Records, a division of Universal Music Group. She signed with Republic in 2018 after her contract with Big Machine expired, and she maintains full ownership of her master recordings for all albums released since "Lover" (2019).

The relationship between Taylor Swift and Big Machine Records later became contentious when the label was sold to Scooter Braun, leading to a highly publicized dispute over the ownership of Swift's master recordings for her first six albums.

To be absolutely clear: While Scott Swift made a small initial investment in Big Machine Records, he never owned or bought the record label itself.

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