Universal Music Group To Pull Songs From TikTok

Unless TikTok and Universal Music Group (UMG) can come to an agreement, music by Taylor Swift, Drake, Olivia Rodrigo and more will be removed from TikTok by the end of the day on Jan. 31. Compensation for artists is the heart of the issue. TikTok proposed paying our artists and songwriters at a rate that is a fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay. Ultimately TikTok is trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music. As our negotiations continued, TikTok attempted to bully us into accepting a deal worth less than the previous deal, far less than fair market value and not reflective of their exponential growth, UMG, via statement. TikTok has accused UMG of putting "their own greed above the interests of artists and songwriters."

The fact is they have chosen to walk away from the powerful support of a platform with well over a billion users that serves as a free promotional and discovery vehicle for their talent, TikTok, via statement. 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, via statement. TikTok signed a licensing deal with Warner Music Group in 2023, NBC News reports.