to war two royalties has just reached new heights, with the TikTok announcing the removal of more songs from the platform. In an ongoing dispute with the Universal Music Group (UMG), in addition to silencing songs from artists linked to the record company, the application now extends its action to composers, threatening to remove the soundtrack from videos involving renowned artists, such as Harry Styles and Adele.
TikTok claims that up to 30% of “popular songs” could be lost, but industry estimates suggest the impact could be even greater, up to 80% of all songs on the platform!
The dispute revolves around “split royalties”, where even a small contribution from a composer linked to UMG can lead to the cancellation of the entire recording. This is not limited to just the label’s artists, but can affect music from other labels, including Sony and Warner, and even hundreds of independent artists.
Universal’s music licensing agreement with TikTok expired in February, resulting in the removal of three million songs from the catalog. Now, with the catalog’s publishing contract about to end, another four million songs can be removed from the platform.
Who loses the most?
UMG accuses TikTok of “bullying,” arguing that the app only wants to pay a “fraction” of the standard fee for its music, while TikTok alleges that Universal is presenting a “false narrative and rhetoric.” In the midst of war, artists and composers fear losing their presence on the app, where music is a crucial part of the appeal. TikTok has become a springboard for new talent, providing viral moments, trends and dance challenges.
Uncertainty hovers over the continuity of partnerships between major record labels and video sharing platforms. Universal Music Group claims that only 1% of its total revenue comes from TikTok, despite the platform having more than one billion users. TikTok, known for its creative community, faces the challenge of maintaining its musical appeal while trying to reach an agreement with music industry titans. And whoever loses the most is certainly the public.
* With information from BBC and Exame
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