TikTok Faces Music Royalties Dispute with Universal Music Group

TikTok is embroiled in a dispute over music royalties with Universal Music Group (UMG). This removed recordings owned or distributed by UMG, including tracks from globally renowned artists like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and The Weeknd. 

This standoff is now expanding to impact songs published by UMG, with millions more tracks expected to be muted on TikTok by the end of the week.

Background of the Dispute:

UMG recently pulled its recordings from TikTok, citing unresolved issues regarding royalties. This action affects major artists and works published by Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) due to a legal complication known as split copyrights. 

Under this arrangement, songs involving songwriters under contract to UMPG may also face removal from TikTok.

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Impact on Artists and Collaboration:

Many artists, including those who have collaborated with UMPG-contracted songwriters, are affected by this move. 

Notable artists such as Taylor Swift, Adele, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, and others may see their songs disappearing from TikTok, hampering their ability to promote their work on the platform.

Expanding Fallout:

UMG’s decision has resulted in the removal of approximately three million songs from TikTok following the expiration of an agreement over its recording catalog. 

The upcoming expiration of UMG’s deal with TikTok over its publishing catalog, covering around four million songs, poses further risks of song removal from the platform.

Consequences for Artists and Promotion:

The removal of UMG’s music catalog from TikTok poses significant challenges for artists seeking to promote their music on one of the most influential platforms for music promotion. 

Not utilizing TikTok for music promotion could impact artists’ visibility and audience engagement.