Universal Music Group (UMG), the record label for top music artists including Taylor Swift, has struck a new licensing agreement with TikTok, putting an end to a spat between the two companies. In a statement Thursday, UMG announced that the licensing deal would lead to the return of its artists’ music to TikTok. Several songs from Taylor Swift, including tracks from the pop star’s new album “The Tortured Poets Department,” were reinstated to the platform following the agreement. This move comes after TikTok had pulled songs from artists signed to UMG earlier this year due to a failure to agree on a new deal over content licensing, leading to a public disagreement between the two parties.
UMG had accused TikTok of bullying and intimidation during their contract negotiations, alleging that TikTok was proposing to pay its artists and songwriters “at a rate that is a fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay.” The dispute centered around TikTok allegedly allowing its platform to undermine artists’ intellectual property rights by featuring unauthorized AI-generated songs. UMG claimed that the social media platform was “flooded with AI-generated recordings,” creating a contentious situation between the two entities.
The new agreement between UMG and TikTok aims to enhance the compensation for songwriters and artists, provide promotional opportunities for their recordings, and introduce “industry-leading protections” concerning generative AI usage. Lucian Grainge, chairman and CEO of UMG, emphasized that the fresh deal focuses on the value of music, the importance of human artistry, and the well-being of the creative community. Grainge expressed optimism about collaborating with TikTok to further the interests of their artists and songwriters while driving innovation in fan engagement and social music monetization.
Shou Zi Chew, TikTok’s CEO, affirmed the platform’s commitment to working together with UMG to facilitate value, discovery, and promotion for all the label’s artists and songwriters. Both companies highlighted their dedication to ensuring that AI development in the music industry safeguards artists’ rights and ensures fair compensation for their work. Additionally, TikTok pledged to collaborate with UMG to eradicate unauthorized AI-generated music from its platform and implement tools to enhance artist and songwriter attribution.
