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Universal Music Group has criticized TikTok’s approach to AI as the dispute between the two companies over song royalties escalates and popular music is removed from the social media platform.
The outcome of the closely watched negotiations could have significant knock-on effects across the industry as two of the most powerful players in the music and technology industries compete for influence in a landscape rife with uncertainty. about artificial intelligence.
In early February, music including Taylor Swift, BTS and Drake left TikTok after a breakdown in negotiations with Universal over the renewal of their licensing deal, which expired on January 31.
Then this week, TikTok began removing music from all artists connected to Universal’s vast publishing catalog, per the multinational music company’s requirement, and all songs written by Universal Music Publishing Group songwriters were subject to removal. .
That affects any artist who may have a publishing deal with the label (examples include Harry Styles and SZA) even if they are not signed under the UMG label umbrella.
“We are in the process of complying with 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, based on the information they have provided,” TikTok said in a statement. . , saying they “remain committed to reaching an equitable agreement” with the music giant.
“Their actions not only affect the songwriters and artists they represent, but now also affect many artists and songwriters who are not signed to Universal,” TikTok’s statement reads.
Universal responded Thursday night in an open statement to its songwriters, saying TikTok “has not agreed to recognize the fair value of its songs.”
In addition to royalties, TikTok “refuses to respond to our concerns about AI depriving songwriters of fair compensation, or to provide assurances that they will not train their AI models on their songs,” Universal said.
“Everything indicates that they simply don’t value your music.”
Owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with more than one billion users.
TikTok had previously accused Universal of putting “greed” before the interests of artists, while Universal has said that TikTok is “trying to build a business based on music, without paying a fair value for the music.”
– ‘Protected’ or ‘the other way around’? –
Universal’s publishing arm is the second largest of its kind worldwide, meaning the impact of the dispute is far-reaching.
A piece of music has two copyrights: one on the recording itself, governed by a label, and another on the lyrics and composition, managed by a publisher.
That means a record from another company like Sony or Warner could go silent on TikTok if a Universal writer worked on the song.
The fallout has sparked concern among artists, songwriters and producers who rely on TikTok as a promotional tool, especially emerging artists who are increasingly counting on it for industry exposure.
The drama became public in February just as much of the music world gathered in Los Angeles for the Grammys.
Speaking to reporters backstage at the awards show, sought-after producer Jack Antonoff, who works with artists including Swift and UMG’s Lana Del Rey, criticized Universal’s approach.
“There’s a whole industry that says, ‘You have to do everything; you have to do everything, and this is where you have to do it,’ and then one day they say, ‘Phew!'” he said, referring to the music coming from the platform.
“As an artist, you always want to make sure you don’t get used to being paid less, which is something they try to get you used to. But I think it’s the other way around.”
But like many artists, German singer Kim Petras, who has had great success on TikTok, has said that Universal’s insistence makes her feel “protected.”
“I know people who have number one records and they can’t pay the rent, so I’m proud that Universal is taking a stand,” Petras said in a recent interview with the BBC.
Universal said they were “sensitive” to the impact the “disruption” is having on artists, but that it was necessary for “the entire music ecosystem.”
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