universal music groupThe company has signed a new licensing agreement with TikTok, the record label for top music artists including Taylor Swift, ending a dispute between the two companies.
UMG said in a statement Thursday that the licensing agreement will bring the artists’ music back to TikTok.
As of Thursday morning, several songs from Taylor Swift’s new album, The Tortured Poets Department, have returned to the platform, CNBC confirmed.
Earlier this year, TikTok removed songs from artists signed to UMG after it sparked a public controversy after failing to reach a new deal with UMG over content licensing. Music by artists such as Swift and Drake is no longer available on TikTok, which is owned by Chinese internet giant ByteDance.
UMG accused TikTok of bullying and intimidation in contract negotiations, saying TikTok offered to pay artists and songwriters “at a fraction of the rates paid by similarly located major social platforms.” insisted.
The spat centered on claims that TikTok is allowing unauthorized AI-generated songs on its platform to infringe on artists’ intellectual property. UMG claimed that social media platforms were “flooded with AI-generated recordings.”
UMG’s new deal with TikTok aims to improve compensation for songwriters and artists, provide opportunities to promote their recordings, and introduce “industry-leading protections” around generative AI.
UMG Chairman and CEO Lucien Grainge said the new agreement “focuses on the value of music, the primacy of human artistry and the well-being of the creative community.”
“We look forward to working with the team at TikTok to further engage artists and songwriters and drive innovation in fan engagement while monetizing social music.”
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said the platform is “committed to working together to advance the value, discovery, and promotion of all of UMG’s amazing artists and songwriters.”
TikTok and UMG said AI developments in the music industry will protect artists and ensure they are paid adequately for their songs.
TikTok will also work with UMG to remove unapproved AI-generated music from the platform, as well as implement tools to improve attribution for artists and songwriters.