Universal Music and TikTok have reached a resolution in their dispute over royalties, resulting in the return of millions of songs to the popular social media platform. The new licensing agreement, announced on Wednesday, will see songs by top artists such as Drake, Adele, and Billie Eilish available for use on TikTok within the next two weeks.
The short video app, known for its viral dance challenges and lip-syncing videos, has become a powerful marketing and promotional tool for musicians. However, in January, Universal Music claimed that it was receiving only a fraction of the payment offered by similar social media platforms and subsequently pulled its entire catalogue from TikTok.
Universal Music, the largest music label in the world, also represents Taylor Swift, who allowed a selection of her songs to return to TikTok in April as she promoted her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department. According to the Financial Times, Swift, who owns the copyrights to her recordings through her 2018 deal with Universal, has the right to control where her songs are available.
The companies have now reached a “new multi-dimensional” licensing agreement that will provide “significant industry-leading benefits” for Universal’s artists and labels. In a joint statement, TikTok announced its commitment to continue investing resources into “building artist-centric tools” and enhancing online safety protections for artists and their fans.
One of the key issues in the dispute was the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in music. The companies have now agreed to work together to ensure that AI development in the industry will protect human artistry and the economic benefits for artists and songwriters. They have also committed to removing any unauthorized AI-generated music from the platform and developing tools to improve artist and songwriter attribution.
Sir Lucian Grainge, chairman and chief executive of Universal Music, described the agreement as a “new chapter” that focuses on the value of music, the importance of human artistry, and the welfare of the creative community. TikTok’s chief executive, Shou Chew, added that music is an integral part of the platform and they are pleased to have found a path forward with Universal Music Group.
Concerns about the use of AI in the creative community have been growing. Last year, a song featuring the cloned voices of Drake and The Weeknd was removed from streaming sites after going viral. Just this week, British singer-songwriter and producer FKA Twigs testified at a US Senate hearing about the unauthorized use of her voice and image in AI-generated content.
A recent poll by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Music found that 83% of UK adults believe a music artist’s creative “personality” should be legally protected against AI copies, and 77% believe it is theft when generated music fails to acknowledge the original creator. In April, over 200 artists signed an open letter expressing their objection to the “predatory” use of AI to “steal professional artists’ voices and likenesses”.
The resolution of the dispute between Universal Music and TikTok is a positive step towards addressing the concerns of the creative community regarding the use of AI in music. With this new agreement, both companies are demonstrating their commitment to protecting the value of music and ensuring fair compensation for artists and songwriters.
