TikTok removes songs from Universal Music after company demands

The conflict between Universal Music Group (UMG) and TikTok has reached a new critical stage, resulting in the removal of UMG's music from the platform. The impasse, which began earlier this month, has expanded to cover an even greater number of songs, including those released by the company itself.

Scope of the conflict and impact on artists

The situation, marked by an intense exchange of accusations on both sides, puts UMG, the largest music company in the world, in confrontation with TikTok, the most influential platform in music promotion over the last five years. The termination of the licensing agreement, which expired on January 31, resulted in the removal of a wide range of unreleased recordings on a UMG-affiliated label, also affecting many artists who collaborated with songwriters under contract to Universal Music Publishing Group. This has a significant impact on artists, depriving them of one of the most powerful platforms to promote their music, as well as royalties that could have been generated on the platform.

Opinions and possible developments

There are different perspectives on the extent of the conflict. Sources linked to UMG claim that the company contributes the majority of music on the platform, while TikTok representatives suggest that this share is significantly lower, ranging between 20% and 30%. Despite this, TikTok states that it has not noticed a drop in the number of users since the removal of UMG's songs began. The impasse appears to be far from a quick resolution, as previous examples indicate that such disputes can drag on for months.

Confrontations and declarations

_{Lucian Charles Grainge, president and CEO of Universal Music Group, at an event (Photo: reproduction/Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage)}

UMG President and CEO Lucian Grainge has raised concerns about fair compensation for artists and songwriters, as well as protecting against the potential negative impacts of artificial intelligence and online safety for TikTok users. Grainge criticized TikTok's proposed payment, arguing it was just a fraction of what would be fair. In response, TikTok accused UMG of prioritizing its greed over the interests of artists and fans.

Resolving this dispute will be crucial for artists and songwriters, as well as having a significant impact on the future of relationships between digital platforms and major record labels.

Featured Photo: Tiktok app, one of the most frequented social networks in the digital world (Reproduction/Kon Karampelas/Unsplash)