Taylor Swift and Prince are releasing exclusives to competing music streaming services they support, Swift serving up a free stream of a performance from her 1989 Tour for Apple Music, and Prince delivering his latest album on Tidal.
Swift took time Sunday, on her 26th birthday, to make the announcement that “The 1989 World Tour Live†will stream free to Apple Music users on Dec. 20.
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The performance was recorded during her tour stop in November in Sydney, Australia. In addition to video of the concert itself, the stream will include scenes from backstage and excerpts of rehearsals with many of the guests she brought on stage with her in different cities over the course of the tour.
The stream will be offered at applemusic.com/TaylorSwift.
Meanwhile, Prince dropped his new album “Hitnrun Phase Two†over the weekend as an exclusive available only on the Tidal music service.
After working in recent years with his stripped-down group 3rdEyeGirl, Prince has brought back his large-scale New Power Generation band on the new collection of a dozen tracks, several of them featuring a 16-piece horn section combining Prince’s NPG Hornz and Minneapolis-based Hornheads.
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Taylor Swfit has risen from country singer/songwriter to pop princess. Here’s a look at her in concert.
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Taylor Swift took over the Staples Center before a sold-out crowd, performing hit after hit, with special guests who included L.A. Laker Kobe Bryant and “Orange Is the New Black’s†Uzo Aduba.
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Taylor Swift adds sparkle to the stage as she performs at Louisiana State’s Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., on May 22. She’s making the rounds with her 1989 World Tour.
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Taylor Swift lifts her hand in the air at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, on June 2015.
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Upon her arrival to Tokyo in May 2015, Taylor Swift literally stopped air traffic. Here, she busts a move onstage as part of her “1989†world tour at the Tokyo Dome.
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At the iHeartRadio Music Awards in March 2015, Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance when she joined Madonna onstage for a performance of “Rebel Heart.†It was quite the collaboration.
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Taylor Swift strikes a pose amid a confetti rush during the Brit Awards in London in February 2015. (Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images)
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Taylor Swift joined Kenney Chesney onstage during his Big Revival tour kick-off for a 55-show run. It was at this concert that Swift was spotted in the arms of musician Calvin Harris, sparking rumors the two were dating.
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Taylor Swift gets cute for the screaming fans in a stylish two-piece tartan plaid outfit for the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in December 2014 in New York. (Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
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Taylor Swift takes a moment to breathe during KIIS-FM’s Jingle Ball concert at Staples Center in Los Angeles in December 2014. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Taylor Swift hits a high note at the 2014 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in London. It was Swift’s second time performing at the lingerie extravaganza. (Joel Ryan / Invision / Associated Press)
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For her second performance of the night at the 2014 Victoria’s Secret Fashion show, Taylor Swift changed into a black lace number. She jammed with the models, including Brazilian model Alessandra Ambrosio, pictured. (Leon Neal / AFP/Getty Images)
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Taylor Swift performs “Blank Space†at the American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles in November 2014. Swift took home the Dick Clark Award for Excellence. (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
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Taylor Swift belts out a tune onstage during the We Can Survive event at the Hollywood Bowl in October 2014. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images for CBS Radio Inc.)
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Taylor Swift hits all the right notes onstage at the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in September 2014. (Christopher Polk/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
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Taylor Swift performs a rendition of her hit single “Shake It Off†at the MTV Video Music Awards in August 2014. (Matt Sayles / Invision / AP )
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Taylor Swift delivers her song “All Too Well†while playing the piano at the Grammy Awards in January 2014. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Taylor Swift strikes a pose during the first of four sold-out shows at the Staples Center in August 2013. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)
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Taylor Swift dons an outfit splattered with the British flag during the 2013 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at the Lexington Armory. (Jason Szenes / EPA)
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Taylor Swift puts on a performance replete with circus-like shenanigans at the Grammy Awards in February 2013. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Taylor Swift lifts her arms mid-performance at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, in December 2013. (Scott Barbour / Getty Images)
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Joined by a bluegrass band, Taylor Swift sings her single “Mean†at the Grammy Awards in February 2012. She took home the awards for country song and country performance that year. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Taylor Swift engages the camera-holding audience during the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in September 2012. (Kevin Mazur / WireImage / Getty Images)
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Taylor Swift at KIIS’ Jingle Ball in December 2012. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Taylor Swift shimmies in her frock at Staples Center in August 2011. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
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Taylor Swift at Staples Center in April 2010. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Taylor Swift at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “All for the Hall†concert benefit in September 2010. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
It was recorded over a period of about four years, according to Prince’s spokeswoman.
Among the tracks on “Hitnrun Phase Two†is “Baltimore,†the call for peace and better understanding that he released in the wake of rioting sparked by racial clashes in that city.
The new album follows quickly on the heels of “Hitnrun Phase One†that Prince released on Sept. 7.
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