Apple changes policies after Taylor Swift's criticism

Less than 24 hours after chart-topping singer Taylor Swift criticised Apple for not paying royalties to artists during the three-month free-trial period for its new Apple Music service, the policy was changed.

The company's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services signalled the change in policy via Twitter.

"Apple will always make sure that artist are paid," tweeted Apple's Eddy Cue on Sunday night in a series of three posts, reports variety.com.

Cue's response may have headed off what could have been a bruising battle for Apple during a crucial period in which Apple Music is attempting to compete with streaming services like Spotify.

Swift expressed earlier in the day that Apple's refusal to pay royalties during the initial period meant she would hold back her latest album "1989" from availability on Apple Music.

"I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company," she wrote on her Tumblr page.