TikTok users noticed a quieter experience as Universal Music Group (UMG) removes its catalog from the popular video-sharing app.
TikTok users may notice a quieter experience as Universal Music Group (UMG) removes its catalog from the popular video-sharing app. Taylor Swift, Drake, Bad Bunny, Ariana Grande, and Billie Eilish, among other major artists, are affected by the licensing disagreement.
Creators on TikTok often use short song clips to enhance their videos, but new content featuring official snippets from UMG artists is now restricted. Additionally, previously published videos containing music from the pulled catalog have been muted due to copyright restrictions.
The dispute, centered around artist compensation, AI protections, and platform safety, led to the breakdown of renewal negotiations between UMG and TikTok. UMG accuses TikTok of selectively removing music from developing artists, while TikTok accuses UMG of being greedy and deceptive.
TikTok’s influence in the music industry has grown, with over a billion users serving as a promotional platform for talent. Despite the disagreement, TikTok Music, a standalone streaming app, is in beta testing in certain international markets.
As generative AI tools gain popularity, UMG claims TikTok supports the creation of AI music, suggesting the platform’s desired contract “is nothing short of sponsoring artist replacement by AI.” This marks another instance where UMG takes issue with machine learning, following a lawsuit against a chatbot company last October.
