The ongoing feud between Universal Music Group and TikTok
The clash between Universal Music Group (UMG) and TikTok intensifies as UMG criticizes TikTok’s handling of artificial intelligence (AI), amid a growing dispute over song royalties and the removal of popular music from the platform.
The outcome of these high-stakes negotiations holds significant implications for the music and tech sectors, as both entities vie for leverage in an environment marked by uncertainty surrounding AI.
The conflict escalated in early February when music by high-profile artists such as Taylor Swift, BTS, and Drake vanished from TikTok following failed negotiations to renew their licensing agreement with Universal, which expired on January 31.
This week, TikTok began removing music from all artists associated with Universal’s extensive publishing catalog, in compliance with the multinational music company’s directives. This move affects artists who have publishing deals with Universal Music Publishing Group, irrespective of whether they are signed under the UMG recording label.
TikTok stated that it is “in the process of carrying out Universal Music Group’s requirement to remove all songs” written or co-written by songwriters under Universal Music Publishing Group.
In response, Universal issued an open statement to its songwriters, accusing TikTok of refusing to acknowledge the fair value of their songs and neglecting concerns about AI potentially depriving songwriters of fair compensation.
The dispute revolves around royalties, with Universal alleging that TikTok is unwilling to engage in fair compensation for music usage and has not addressed concerns about AI’s impact on songwriter compensation.
TikTok has previously accused Universal of prioritizing “greed” over artists’ interests, while Universal has accused TikTok of attempting to build a music-focused business without adequately compensating artists.
Given Universal’s substantial publishing arm, the repercussions of this feud extend far beyond the involved parties. The situation underscores the intricate nature of music copyright, where a song may have multiple copyrights for its recording and composition.
As the fallout unfolds, there is growing apprehension among performers, songwriters, and producers who rely on TikTok for promotion, particularly emerging artists who depend on the platform for exposure in the industry.
Business News: The ongoing feud between Universal Music Group and TikTok
