TikTok is removing all Universal Music adjacent songs

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The standoff between TikTok and the Universal Music Group (UMG) has prompted the video-sharing app to remove all songs written by UMG songwriters. TikTok has already muted songs from artists contracted to the music label.

The TikTok and Universal Music feud began when neither company agreed on royalties, leading to an issue called “split copyrights.” This means if any Universal Music-related songwriter has ever contributed to any song, that song must be removed from TikTok.

In early February, Universal Music pulled the catalogs of well-known artists like Taylor Swift, Drake, and Billie Eilish from TikTok. In response, the video-sharing platform is taking down UMG-related songs.

The music label has also accused TikTok of “bullying” them by not paying a fair share. They added that only one percent of their revenue comes from the ByteDance-owned app.

TikTok is taking down songs from well-known artists over failed negotiations with Universal Music Group

“We are in the process of carrying out Universal Music Group’s requirement to remove all songs that have been written (or co-written) by a songwriter signed to Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), based on information they have provided,” TikTok’s statement reads. Meanwhile, TikTok said it’s yet ready to negotiate an “equitable agreement” with UMG.

Taylor Swift, Adele, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Ice Spice, Elton John, Harry Styles, SZA, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish and their songwriters are among the impacted artists. All previously published songs from these artists are also muted on TikTok. There are countless lip-sync videos from these artists on TikTok. And muting their voices throws all those videos into the barren. The move could also negatively impact TikTok’s rivalry with YouTube Music.

More music and artists are leaving TikTok amid the clash with Universal Music Group

TikTok says only 30% of its popular songs are impacted. However, some industry experts warn that over 80% of available songs on the platform could be removed. As BBC reports, Universal Music has pulled around three million of its songs from TikTok so far. With an expiring publishing catalog deal by the end of this week, an additional four million songs are on the brink of getting removed from TikTok.



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