Common Music Group, which represents artists together with Taylor Swift, Drake, Adele, Dangerous Bunny and Billie Eilish, says that it’s going to now not permit its music on TikTok now {that a} licensing deal between the 2 events has expired.
UMG stated that it had not agreed to phrases of a brand new take care of TikTok, and plans to cease licensing content material from the artists it represents on the social media platform that’s owned by ByteDance, in addition to TikTok Music providers.
The licensing settlement between UMG and TikTok is expired as of Wednesday.
In a Tuesday letter addressed to artists and songwriters, UMG stated that it had been urgent TikTok on three points: “acceptable compensation for our artists and songwriters, defending human artists from the dangerous results of AI, and on-line security for TikTok’s customers.”
UMG stated that TikTok proposed paying its artists and songwriters at a charge that’s a fraction of the speed that different main social platforms pay, including that TikTok makes up solely about 1% of its whole income.
“Finally TikTok is attempting to construct a music-based enterprise, with out paying honest worth for the music,” UMG stated.
TikTok pushed again towards claims by UMG, saying that it has reached “artist-first” agreements with each different label and writer.
“Clearly, Common’s self-serving actions usually are not in one of the best pursuits of artists, songwriters and followers,” TikTok stated.
But Common Music additionally known as new know-how a possible risk to artists and stated that TikTok is creating instruments to allow, promote and encourage AI music creation. UMG accused the platform of “demanding a contractual proper which might permit this content material to massively dilute the royalty pool for human artists, in a transfer that’s nothing wanting sponsoring artist substitute by AI.”
UMG additionally took concern with what it described as questions of safety on TikTok. UMG is unhappy with TikTok’s efforts to take care of what it says is hate speech, bigotry, bullying and harassment. It stated that having troubling content material faraway from TikTok is a “monumentally cumbersome and inefficient course of which equates to the digital equal of “Whack-a-Mole.”
UMG stated it proposed that TikTok take steps much like what a few of its different social media platform companions use, however that it was met with indifference at first, after which with intimidation.
“As our negotiations continued, TikTok tried to bully us into accepting a deal price lower than the earlier deal, far lower than honest market worth and never reflective of their exponential development,” UMG stated. “How did it attempt to intimidate us? By selectively eradicating the music of sure of our creating artists, whereas holding on the platform our audience-driving international stars.”
TikTok, nevertheless stated that Common Music is placing “their very own greed above the pursuits of their artists and songwriters.”
