UMG, also known as Universal Music Group, has threatened to remove its song catalog from TikTok due to licensing negotiations. In an open letter issued on January 30, the multinational music company accused the popular video platform, saying:
“Ultimately, TikTok is trying to build a business based on music, without paying fair value for the music.”
Includes major artists within the Universal Music Group BTS, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Harry Styles, Nicki Minaj, Bad Bunny, Drake, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, Lana Del Rey, Post Malone, Eminem, Justin Bieber, Anita, Beyoncé, Camila Cabello, Lewis Capaldi, Mariah Carey, Inhibin, BlackpinkAnd much more.
The company revealed that the terms of its relationship with TikTok are documented in a contract that will expire on January 31, 2024. While discussing the contract renewal, UMG claimed that it was trying to reach negotiations on three critical issues:
“Adequate compensation for our artists and songwriters, protection of human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok users.”
UMG detailed its accusations against TikTok in an open letter
When Universal Music Group began its mission, the company made clear its mission of helping songwriters and other music artists achieve the highest level of creativity as well as commercial potential.
Building relationships with partners around the world helps achieve these goals. One such partner is the popular social media platform TikTok which is becoming remarkably influential day by day thanks to its huge user base across the globe and its powerful technology. UMG has claimed that its artists' music contributes a large part to TikTok's success as one of the largest social platforms in the world.
Universal Music Group has claimed that TikTok's proposed pay for artists and songwriters is only a fraction of the rate paid by similar social media platforms. The company added:
“Today, as an indication of how little TikTok compensates artists and songwriters, despite our massive and growing user base, rapidly rising ad revenue and increasing reliance on music-based content, TikTok represents only about 1% of our total revenue.”
UMG also accused TikTok of allowing its platform to be filled with AI-generated songs. The letter stressed that the short video app has not only allowed AI infiltration, but has also developed tools to promote and encourage live music creation using AI on its platform. Universal Music Group explained how this affects original artists:
“Demanding a contractual right that would allow this content to significantly dilute the royalties of human artists, in a move nothing short of sponsoring the replacement of the artist by artificial intelligence.”
TikTok faced several more accusations from the world's leading music company as the open letter progressed. The platform allegedly tried to bully Universal Music Group into accepting a lower value deal compared to the previous deal which is also significantly less than the fair market value of the songs. claimed:
“TikTok’s tactics are clear: Use the power of its platform to hurt vulnerable artists and try to intimidate us into giving up a bad deal that devalues music and shortchanges artists and songwriters as well as their fans.”
UMG admitted that pulling its artist catalog from TikTok would upset fans who are accustomed to accessing and creating popular songs on the platform. However, the company said that its primary responsibility is to its artists, their value, and proper compensation for their hard work.
