Universal Music Group, holder of the rights to Taylor Swift, is calling time on TikTok, removing its huge artist catalog from the app due to lack of compensation and AI concerns.
Universal Music Group’s Ultimatum
Universal Music Group hit out at the Chinese social media app TikTok, warning it would remove its extensive music catalog from the app due to royalty payments.
TikTok’s Enormous User Base at Stake
Over 1 billion TikTok users may lose access to songs by major artists whose music is essential for popular videos and trends.
TikTok’s 1% Not Enough
Universal admitted that TikTok only accounts for 1% of its revenue, suggesting that the protection of its artists is more important than a small percentage of income.
Universal’s Public Statement
Universal explained its reasoning for removing songs from artists from The Police to Taylor Swift, and everything in between through a letter called.
Calling Time on TikTok
The letter was titled, “An open letter to the artist and songwriter community — why we must call time out on TikTok.”
Music at TikTok’s Heart
The letter noted that TikTok execs “proudly” claim that “music is at the heart of the TikTok experience,” which Universal will now use to its advantage.
Expiring Licensing Agreement
One of the reasons that Universal Music Group (UMG) must remove their music is the license agreement, which was set to expire just 24 hours after the letter was released.
Fighting Against AI
UMG claims they have fought “aggressively” against the use of AI to “ensure artists’ rights and interests are protected,” this comes after shocking AI images of Taylor Swift were released on social media.
AI Breaking Contract Law
According to the letter, “TikTok is allowing the platform to be flooded with AI-generated recordings,” which is not compensated to the artists, going against the contract.
Universal’s Focus on Artist Compensation
One key focus of Universal’s negotiations is securing appropriate compensation for its artists and songwriters.
Failed Compensation
UMG and TikTok failed to reach an agreement on issues like artist compensation, as UMG accused the app of failing to provide “appropriate” compensation to its artists in the new deal.
TikTok’s Offer
TikTok allegedly proposed a payment that Universal described as a “fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay.”
Global Catalog at Stake
Universal stressed the huge amounts of global sensations that TikTok has lost itself, including The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Drake, Sting, the Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, and Ariana Grande, to name a few.
TikTok’s Lack of Care for Artists
Universal claimed that “TikTok makes little effort” to acknowledge the music on its platform that breaches the rights of its artists.
No Solutions Promised
According to the letter, TikTok “offered no meaningful solutions” to reduce the amount of copyright issues before bringing up a serious matter.
Harassment Issues
TikTok has been accused of allowing a “tidal wave of hate speech, bigotry, bullying and harassment” on its platform that doesn’t show any sign of being stopped.
TikTok’s Accusations
TikTok accused Universal of spinning a “false narrative and rhetoric” while promoting “their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters.”
Accusations of Walking Away
TikTok claims Universal has chosen to “walk away” from the hugely popular app, which it claims promotes Universal’s artists to the world for free.
TikTok’s “Artist-First” Agreements
TikTok defends its stance, stating it has “artist-first” agreements with “every other label and publisher,” implying that Universal’s concerns are unique.
The Future is Uncertain
As Universal-owned music on TikTok comes to an end, it’s interesting to see how this would affect the popularity of the app that claims music is at its heart.
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