Users of popular social media platform TikTok can no longer use music by artists from Universal Music Group (UMG) in their videos, following the disagreement between the platform and the record label when it comes to licensing agreements.
In a statement released by UMG on its website, the label said that they had been conversing with the platform about artists and songwriters’ compensation, artists’ protection from the effects of AI, and online safety for the application’s users during discussions about contract renewals.
“As our negotiations continued, TikTok attempted to bully us into accepting a deal worth less than the previous deal, far less than fair market value and not reflective of their exponential growth,” the label said, further saying that the platform had selectively removed the music of its developing artists while keeping the songs of their famous stars.
“We have an overriding responsibility to our artists to fight for a new agreement under which they are appropriately compensated for their work, on a platform that respects human creativity, in an environment that is safe for all, and effectively moderated,” the label added.
TikTok responded to the label through a statement on its website.
“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,” its statement read.
The platform also noted that compared to UMG, it was able to reach agreements with other labels and publishers that put artists’ interests first.
The disagreement between the two parties has resulted in music by artists signed with UMG no longer being available on the platform. Videos that use such songs will be muted. This restriction also applies to songs by artists who have signed under UMG Philippines, the local arm of UMG in the country, such as JK Labajo and Zack Tabudlo.
Musician Zild Benitez, previously a member of band IV of Spades and currently goes by zild, posted a satirical video on the platform about the situation, joking about how he will be promoting his new music without using its official recording.
Benitez is currently signed under Island Records Philippines, a label under UMG Philippines.
