Taylor Swift
Joe Camporeale/Reuters
Taylor Swift’s music is back on TikTok, even as UMG fights to secure a new contract for its artists.
UMG was caught off guard by Swift’s move, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Although negotiations have stalled, Swift may have undermined the label’s fight, according to an industry expert
This is a machine translation of an article from our US colleagues at Business Insider. It was automatically translated and checked by a real editor.
Taylor Swift’s return to TikTok undermines the ongoing dispute between Universal Music Group and the social media app over artists’ royalties, an industry expert who spoke to saidthe Wall Street Journal.
Swift recently brought her music back to the platform after UMG pulled it in January due to an ongoing dispute between music label UMG and TikTok.
UMG accused TikTok, denying its artists fair compensation, saying it only offers a “fraction of the price” that other platforms offer for licensing. She also complained about the promotion of AI music on TikTok, saying that AI-generated content threatens her artists.
After UMG and TikTok Unable to reach an agreement on January 31 and the music label’s contract with the social media company expiring, UMG’s music – including works by artists such as Drake, Olivia Rodrigo, Beyoncé and Doja Cat – removed from the website. A report from Wall Street Journal According to Swift, she initially agreed with UMG’s move.
However, people familiar with the matter told the Journal that the star’s team approached UMG about allowing TikTok to use her music again. Swifts Lager plans to use the app to promote the upcoming release of her album „The Tortured Poet’s Department“ to apply.
According to the Journal, the label was caught off guard by Swift’s 180-degree turnaround.
UMG tried to dissuade Swift’s team, but Swift returned despite her pleas back to TikTok — unlike most of the group’s artists, Swift’s contract allows her to work directly with TikTok, the Journal reports.
“Universal can’t say they’re winning a fight that Taylor doesn’t want to be a part of,” Bill Werde, the director of Syracuse University’s music business program, told the Journal. “The fact that this all-powerful artist, who has fought for artists so many times, is saying, ‘No, I want to be back on the platform,’ is very disappointing to Universal’s case.”
TikTok and UMG still have to agree on a contract that is suitable for both companies. TikTok accused UMG of putting “its own greed above the interests of its artists and songwriters” when it pulled music from the platform – a powerful marketing tool for musicians big and small.
“Despite Universal’s misrepresentation and rhetoric, the fact is that they have chosen to abandon the powerful support of a platform with well over a billion users that serves as a free promotion and discovery tool for their talent,” said TikTok previously in a statement to Business Insider.
UMG, TikTok and a representative for Swift did not respond to Business Insider’s requests for comment outside of regular business hours.
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