This might see the removal of music from Taylor Swift, SZA, Billie Eilish, Alicia Keys, The Weeknd, among others.
On January 31, it was reported that music publishing giant Universal Music Group (UMG) will be pulling out its entire catalog from the social networking platform TikTok.
This, as both parties failed to come into terms with the renewal of their previous deal.
As per UMG through its open letter, what it had asked for during their discussion with TikTok were “appropriate compensation of its artists and songwriters, protection of human artists from the harmful effects of AI [artificial intelligence], and online safety for TikTok’s user.”
It then bared that “TikTok proposed paying our artists and songwriters at a rate that is fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay.”
UMG added thatvdespite the “increasing reliance on music-based content, TikTok accounts for only about 1% of our [UMG] total revenue.”
“But when we proposed that TikTok takes similar steps as our other platform partners to try address these issues, it responded with indifference, then with intimidation,” UMG revealed.
UMG also acussed TikTok of attempting to bully the music company by intimidating them to accept a deal “worth less than the previous deal, far less than fair market value and not reflective of their exponential growth.”
TikTok did this, UMG said, “by selectively removing the music of certain of our developing artists, while keeping on the platform our audience-driving global stars.”
“We honor our responsibilities with the utmost seriousness. Intimidation and threats will never cause us to shirk those responsibilities,” UMG ended their open letter.
In response, TikTok issued their own statement against UMG.
“It is sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters,” the platform fired back at the music company.
They denounced the accusations made by UMG, and clarified: “TikTok has been able to reach ‘artist-first’ agreements with every other label and publisher.”
“Clearly, Universal’s self-serving actions are not in the best interests of artists, songwriters and fans,” TikTok added.
If no new deal between TikTok and UMG is signed by January 31st, music from globally-renowned artists like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, Drake, Alicia Keys, The Weeknd, Post Malone, among mant others, will be removed from the social media platform.