Part of the reason why TikTok has over 1.1 billion active users across 160 countries is it gives creators the ability to make fun and unique videos using popular music. However, in January 2024, a huge change took place that will alter the experience on the platform.
TikTok has been slowly removing all music and videos from Universal Music Group (UMG) from the platform. But why is this happening, and how will this affect users’ videos that already feature sounds from UMG? In this post, we give you the nitty-gritty details of what’s actually happening.
Why TikTok Removed Universal Group’s Music from the App
TikTok confirmed that they had started to remove all of UMG’s music from the app’s music library. This is because the two companies failed to reach an agreement upon the UMG’s contract expiration. TikTok and the big music label soon had heated exchanges.
The section where music was removed isn’t the same as the sound effects library, where you can find sounds that provide effects for dramatic representation. Users can still add funny, creepy, or tranquil sound effects to their videos using free sounds that aren’t copyrighted.
UMG’s Open Letter to TikTok
Soon after the negotiations between UMG and TikTok took place, the music label wrote a strong open letter. In the letter, UMG accused TikTok of trying to create a music-based platform without compensating the artists fairly.
The letter went on to state that TikTok proposed a rate to pay songwriters and artists at an extremely low rate – lower compared to other platforms. The company also accused TikTok of flooding the platform with AI-generated content, which affects the opportunities for real musicians.
Furthermore, UMG voiced their frustration about how TikTok has put in minimal effort to deal with content that infringes on artists’ music. The music label closed its letter by stating that it honors its responsibilities and that threats from other companies will never change its ethics.
TikTok’s Response to UMG
In response to UMG’s letter, TikTok stated that the music label puts its own needs and greed before its musicians and songwriters. TikTok also stated that UMG gave up on a powerful partnership with a platform that provides artists with free promotional opportunities. UMG is taking away the opportunity for artists to be discovered by new listeners.
TikTok executives stated that UMG tried to bully them into negotiations, which they declined. The platform has been able to reach agreements with other companies except for UMG.
Which Artists’ Music Was Removed from TikTok?
Universal Music Group is the third-largest production company in the world. The company has around 250 artists and owns more than 50 labels that cover a wide range of music genres. Here is a list of popular artists music that were removed from TikTok:
- Taylor Swift
- Drake
- Bad Bunny
- Adele
- Billie Eilish
- Rhianna
- Olivia Rodrigo
- Harry Styles
- Lana Del Rey
- Nick Minaj
How Does the Music Remove on TikTok Affect Creators
Part of the reason why some videos go viral on TikTok is because of the sounds they use when making content. There’s music that creates trends that attract millions of viewers. That’s why the removal of music from popular artists is affecting users in a big way.
Creators who have used any music from UMG artists have videos that are completely muted. According to the New York Times, a video that Kylie Jenner posted on TikTok that featured Lana Del Rey’s music is completely silent.
Users will see notes on their videos stating, “This sound isn’t available,” which featured UMG artists. Other messages users might see is “Sound is removed due to copyright issues”.
Even when users search for popular artists like Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift, the sections that feature many songs no longer reflect on the app.
How Does This Change Affect Musicians?
Creators who make short videos with music in the background are extremely valuable to musicians because they provide free promotions. Well-known creators on TikTok with millions of followers can easily make a lesser-known song go viral.
Additionally, there are instances where TikTok creators have revived songs that were released decades ago. Although there is still radio and other streaming platforms like Spotify, musicians may struggle to get their music out there to the public without the help from TikTok creators.
Final Thoughts
There’s not much that creators can do about the feud between UMG and TikTok. Unfortunately, it affects artists as well as video creators who rely on TikTok to earn money or to promote their media. Hopefully, the two companies will come to an agreement in the future.
