Universal Music Group (UMG) and TikTok have announced a new licensing agreement, resolving a prolonged dispute that led to popular music being removed from the social media platform.
The agreement, described as multi-dimensional by UMG, will bring significant benefits to UMG’s global family of artists, songwriters, and labels, allowing their music to once again reach TikTok’s billion-plus global community.
In a joint statement, UMG and TikTok emphasized the start of a new era of strategic collaboration, driven by a shared commitment to helping UMG’s artists and songwriters realize their creative and commercial potential.
Enhanced compensation for artists
“By harnessing TikTok’s best-in-class technology, marketing and promotional capabilities, UMG and TikTok will deliver improved remuneration for UMG’s songwriters and artists, new promotional and engagement opportunities for their recordings and songs and industry-leading protections concerning generative AI,” the statement, dated May 1, 2024, reads.
Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO, of Universal Music Group, said: “This new chapter in our relationship with TikTok focuses on the value of music, the primacy of human artistry, and the welfare of the creative community. We look forward to collaborating with the team at TikTok to further the interests of our artists and songwriters and drive innovation in fan engagement while advancing social music monetization.”
Shou Chew, CEO of TikTok, said: “Music is an integral part of the TikTok ecosystem and we are pleased to have found a path forward with Universal Music Group. We are committed to working together to drive value, discovery and promotion for all of UMG’s amazing artists and songwriters, and deepen their ability to grow, connect and engage with the TikTok community.”
agreement for both organisations
TikTok fans can anticipate the return of UMG’s recorded music and publishing catalogs, allowing them to once again use music from some of the world’s biggest artists and songwriters in their videos.
Under the agreement, both organizations will collaborate to explore new monetization opportunities using TikTok’s expanding e-commerce capabilities. They will also join forces on campaigns to support UMG’s artists across various genres and territories worldwide.
TikTok will continue to invest resources in developing artist-centric tools to empower UMG artists on the platform.
These tools, such as “Add to Music App,” enhanced data and analytics, and integrated ticketing capabilities, aim to benefit artists financially and help them grow their global fanbases using TikTok’s large and engaged community. Additionally, measures will be taken to strengthen online safety protections for artists and their fans.
Furthermore, TikTok and UMG will collaborate to ensure that AI development in the music industry respects human artistry and supports the economic interests of artists and songwriters. TikTok is committed to removing unauthorized AI-generated music from the platform and implementing tools to enhance artist and songwriter attribution.
