TikTok and Universal Music Group reach new agreement
After a lengthy dispute over artist compensation and the use of artificial intelligence, social media platform TikTok and music industry giant Universal Music Group have finally reached an agreement.
The issues between the two companies first arose earlier this year, when Universal Music Group decided to remove their music from the video-sharing app. Any new content uploaded to the social media platform was restricted from using songs by their artists, while existing videos with their music attached would be muted.
As one of the biggest music companies in the world, UMG has an impressive and extensive roster and the decision affected some huge names. Subsidiaries of UMG include huge labels like Island and Def Jam, while mammoth artists like Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, and The Weeknd are also under UMG.
All of those artists and more would all have their music muted on TikTok, although certain Taylor Swift songs returned to the platform in April ahead of the release of her new album, The Tortured Poets Department.
At the time, the company stated that they were “pressing [Tiktok] on three critical issues.” Those issues were “appropriate compensation for our artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok’s users.”
Three months on, UMG have agreed upon a “multi-dimensional licensing agreement” with TikTok and will return their music to the platform. The deal includes improved compensation and opportunities for artists on UMG, as well as “industry-leading protections with respect to generative AI.”
According to UMG Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge, this “new chapter” with the platform will focus on “the value of music, the primacy of human artistry and the welfare of the creative community.”
“We look forward to collaborating with the team at TikTok to further the interests of our artists and songwriters and drive innovation in fan engagement while advancing social music monetization,” he added.
Shou Chew, the TikTok CEO, also provided his thoughts on the new deal. “Music is an integral part of the TikTok ecosystem,” he acknowledged in a statement, “and we are pleased to have found a path forward with Universal Music Group.” He went on to declare that the company are “committed” to working with the music giant to support their songwriters on the app.
The statement also confirmed that UMG will return their music to TikTok, but a timeline for this is yet to be confirmed.
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