UMG To Remove All Signed Artists’ Music From TikTok

Pavlo Gonchar/Getty Images

Universal Music Group (UMG), the company behind chart-topping sensations like Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Post Malone, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and more, has made a bold move by announcing the removal of all its artist’s music from TikTok. This decision stems from a failed agreement on music licensing between the two corporations.

UMG To Remove All Of Its Music From TikTok

In an open letter on their website, UMG declared the decision as a result of unresolved issues, such as fair compensation for artists and protection against the impact of artificial intelligence.

Accusing the social media platform of undervaluing their music, UMG emphasized that TikTok is “trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music.”

In response, TikTok retaliated today with a statement posted to their socials, alleging that UMG’s decision is fueled by greed, accusing that the company is placing its financial interests above the well-being of its artists, songwriters, and fans.

pic.twitter.com/8WNHLqIiyy

— TikTokComms (@TikTokComms) January 31, 2024

Another concern that UMG has stated about their partnership with TikTok is the mass amount of AI generated songs that have been created using their artists’ voices.

“On AI, TikTok is allowing the platform to be flooded with AI-generated recordings—as well as developing tools to enable, promote and encourage AI music creation on the platform itself – and then demanding a contractual right which would allow this content to massively dilute the royalty pool for human artists, in a move that is nothing short of sponsoring artist replacement by AI.”

What This Decision Could Mean In The Music Industry

With the licensing agreement set to expire at the end of today, January 31, UMG warned that failure to renegotiate terms would result in the removal of its entire musical catalog from the platform, potentially muting videos featuring UMG artists’ songs and exposing TikTok to legal liabilities with copyright infringement claims down the line.

This clash comes after TikTok secured a licensing deal with Warner Music Group, according to NBC News.