Universal Music Group will pull songs from TikTok from artists like Drake, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal Music Group couldn’t agree with TikTok on a new licensing deal.
The music label made the announcement in an open letter to songwriters and artists titled “Why we must call time out on TikTok.”
You Won’t Hear Music From Universal Music Group Artists On TikTok Anymore
The open letter didn’t hold back.
“In our contract renewal discussions, we have been pressing them on three critical issues—appropriate compensation for our artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok’s users… TikTok proposed paying our artists and songwriters at a rate that is a fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay.”
Universal Music Group added that TikTok accounts for only 1% of its revenue.
“Ultimately TikTok is trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music.”
UMG also brought artificial intelligence into the conversation.
“TikTok is allowing the platform to be flooded with AI-generated recordings—as well as developing tools to enable, promote and encourage AI music creation on the platform itself – and then demanding a contractual right which would allow this content to massively dilute the royalty pool for human artists, in a move that is nothing short of sponsoring artist replacement by AI.”
The decision comes days before the 2024 Grammy Awards.
“We recognize the challenges that TikTok’s actions will cause, and do not underestimate what this will mean to our artists and their fans who, unfortunately, will be among those subjected to the near-term consequences of TikTok’s unwillingness to strike anything close to a market-rate deal and meaningfully address its obligations as a social platform.”
TikTok responded to Universal Music Group with its own statement.
“It is sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters. Despite Universal’s false narrative and rhetoric, the fact is they have chosen to walk away from the powerful support of a platform with well over a billion users that serves as a free promotional and discovery vehicle for their talent.”

“TikTok has been able to reach ‘artist-first’ agreements with every other label and publisher. Clearly, Universal’s self-serving actions are not in the best interests of artists, songwriters and fans.”