Have you noticed songs mysteriously missing from your TikTok feed lately? It’s not just you. TikTok recently announced that it’s pulling more music from its platform due to an ongoing dispute over royalties with Universal Music Group (UMG).
Here’s what you need to know about the escalating battle between the two giants and its impact on TikTok users and artists.
Consequences
Amidst a flurry of verbal exchanges between the two parties, the conflict between UMG—the globe’s largest music entity—and TikTok—the unrivaled platform for music promotion over the past half-decade—intensifies as they struggle with the renewal of their expired licensing agreement, which ended on January 31.
As of Wednesday, February 28, tracks by artists like Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, and SZA have vanished from searches on TikTok, rendering more videos silent.
UMG’s announcement at the end of January regarding the failure to secure a new agreement with TikTok encompassed both its record labels and publishing arm, UMPG. Initially, the impact was limited to tracks from recording artists under UMG labels like Interscope, Republic, or Def Jam.
The removal of UMG’s catalog extends far beyond UMG’s artists, affecting music from various record labels. This broad reach stems from the dual copyrights attached to each piece of music: one for the recording itself (controlled by labels) and another for the song’s lyrics and composition (controlled by music publishers).
Songwriters often collaborate with artists across various labels, meaning that even songs released by Sony or Warner Music could face removal if a writer associated with UMPG contributed to its creation.
Moreover, certain artists may not be signed to UMG but have publishing deals with UMPG. Take Harry Styles, Steve Lacy, and SZA, for instance—they are all affiliated with Sony-owned Columbia and RCA, respectively, yet UMPG serves as their publisher. This is the reason why hit tracks like “As It Was,” “Bad Habit,” and “Kill Bill” have disappeared from TikTok.
Even Bad Bunny, signed to the independent label Rimas, has a publishing agreement with UMPG, resulting in his music being taken down as well.
Artists have voiced mixed opinions on the conflict. Some argue that TikTok should pay more for music, given its importance on the platform. Others view TikTok primarily as a promotional tool and express frustration over UMG’s unilateral decision to remove their music without consulting them.
UMG’s concerns
Despite repeated requests, representatives from both UMG and TikTok have yet to comment on the situation. In a letter issued earlier this month, UMG outlined various concerns—including low payments, concerns on AI utilization, and worries regarding user safety on TikTok—that have hindered negotiations for a licensing agreement.
UMG emphasized that TikTok contributes only about 1% of its total revenue. The company accused TikTok of attempting to develop a music-centric business model without adequately compensating artists and songwriters for their work.
In response, TikTok accused UMG of prioritizing its financial interests over those of its artists and songwriters. TikTok refuted UMG’s assertions, describing them as “false” and highlighting what it perceives as UMG’s greed-driven agenda.”
An uncertain future
The initial action primarily targets the “Anglo-American” repertoire, reflecting Universal Music Publishing Group’s extensive roster of songwriters. This includes creators like Adele, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Elton John, Metallica, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, SZA, and The Weeknd, among others.
Given the multitude of songwriters and publishers involved in contemporary hit songs, it remains uncertain to what extent the music library will be affected or where the boundary lies regarding UMPG’s control over a song. A month into the dispute between the two entities, it remains challenging to quantify the fallout beyond muted tracks.
Universal’s primary concern will be monitoring whether its streaming figures decline or if fewer hit songs emerge. Meanwhile, TikTok will be closely observing app usage to ascertain if users become frustrated due to the reduced availability of music.
