Universal Music Group (UMG) has declared its decision to cease music licensing on TikTok, potentially resulting in the removal of songs by major artists like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Drake, and BTS from the platform. The record label explained in an open letter on its website that the music licensing agreement between UMG and TikTok is set to expire soon, and new terms have not been agreed upon. The issues surrounding the licensing agreement include concerns related to artist and songwriter pay, safeguarding artists from the impacts of artificial intelligence, and ensuring TikTok user safety.
UMG stated that all music licensed by the label is expected to be removed from TikTok in the coming days, starting from the expiration date of the current agreement. The label accused TikTok of attempting to “bully us into accepting a deal.” The dispute involves disagreements over the compensation offered to artists and songwriters, as well as concerns about the effects of AI-generated music and the platform’s commitment to user safety.
Music from some of the world’s biggest stars, including Taylor Swift, BTS, Bad Bunny, and others, may face removal from TikTok due to the conflict with their label. UMG, representing renowned artists like Swift and Drake, claims that TikTok proposed payment rates that are “a fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay.” TikTok responded to the open letter with a statement, dismissing UMG’s claims as a “false narrative” driven by “greed.”
In the statement, TikTok expressed disappointment with UMG’s prioritization of its own interests over those of its artists and songwriters. The platform argued that UMG chose to walk away from the support of a platform with over a billion users, serving as a valuable promotional and discovery tool for talent. TikTok highlighted its ability to reach agreements with other labels and publishers, emphasizing that UMG’s actions are not in the best interests of artists, songwriters, and fans.
Artists whose music may be affected by the dispute include Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Drake, Bad Bunny, SZA, Rihanna, Adele, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, BTS, Blackpink, J. Cole, Demi Lovato, Kendrick Lamar, and more. UMG encompasses various prominent labels such as Capitol Records, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Def Jam Recordings, Abbey Road Studios, Virgin Music Group, Motown, and Dreamville.
UMG revealed that only 1% of its total revenue comes from TikTok, despite the platform’s substantial user base and growing advertising revenue. The label accused TikTok of pressuring them to accept a deal with terms inferior to the previous one and not reflective of fair market value. UMG also raised concerns about TikTok’s alleged promotion of AI-generated music, which could dilute the royalty pool for human artists and contribute to the replacement of artists by AI.
In addition to issues related to compensation and AI, UMG accused TikTok of indifference and intimidation when addressing proposed solutions to these concerns. The dispute raises questions about the future availability of popular music on TikTok and highlights the challenges in negotiations between major record labels and social media platforms.