Songs from artists like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Drake, and others are beginning to be removed by Universal Music Group after a failure to secure a new licensing agreement with ByteDance-owned TikTok.
What Happened: In its open letter, UMG said despite prolonged negotiations, talks with TikTok have hit a deadlock, and the agreement has expired, as spotted by The Verge. The existing agreement between the two is due to expire tomorrow.
TikTok users have observed the removal of Swift's songs – some of her followers have started asking why they cannot find her songs anymore on the social media platform.
UMG has accused TikTok of offering songwriters a significantly lower rate than other leading social media platforms. The letter also claims that TikTok tried to bully the company into accepting their terms by selectively removing music from certain emerging artists.
UMG has vowed to persist in its fight for equitable compensation for songwriters and to ensure their music is used on platforms that respect creativity and provide safe environments.
Why It Matters: This impasse follows UMG’s previous indication of its intent to withdraw its music from TikTok. UMG had accused TikTok of using aggressive tactics to push through a renewal agreement that was less favorable than their previous contract.
UMG had expressed dissatisfaction with TikTok's approach to renewing its licensing agreement. The deal, which was due to end on Jan. 31, was between the music giant and TikTok's parent company, ByteDance.
TikTok hit back, saying "it is sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put their greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters," in an emailed response to Benzinga.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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