So far, users of the TikTok platform have been able to use songs by artists such as Taylor Swift or Lady Gaga. This could end from Thursday. Licensing negotiations between Universal and TikTok have failed.
The world’s largest music company Universal Music and the social media platform TikTok are going their separate ways for the time being. Universal announced yesterday that they had not been able to agree on a new licensing agreement. The joint contract therefore expires on January 31st.
This means that music by well-known artists such as Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga could be removed from TikTok from Thursday. TikTok only offered musicians and songwriters a “fraction” of the remuneration usual on other similar online platforms, Universal Music argued in an open letter.
Universal criticizes the use of AI on TikTok
Universal also criticizes the use of artificial intelligence (AI). TikTok is letting music created with the help of AI onto the platform on a large scale. The social media platform is thus driving forward “the replacement of artists with AI”.
In addition, Universal sees a problem in that TikTok has an inefficient process for removing problematic content such as fake pornographic images from artists. Such photos of Taylor Swift were published just last week. TikTok initially did not respond to the allegations.
The exit of Universal Music could have significant consequences for TikTok: Many videos have musical accompaniment from famous artists. Universal has many of the most famous musicians under contract. Universal Music admitted that the move would also have consequences for its own artists. However, we have a responsibility to fight for fair conditions for them.
Chinese company or not?
TikTok has more than a billion users and is the only successful online platform in the West that does not come from the USA. The service belongs to the Bytedance Group, which comes from China. However, the company always emphasizes that it does not see itself as a subsidiary of a Chinese company. Bytedance is 60 percent owned by Western investors.
However, critics counter that the Chinese founders, with a share of 20 percent, maintained control thanks to higher voting rights and that Bytedance has a large headquarters in Beijing.
The platform is very popular among younger consumers. According to estimates, TikTok’s revenues amount to more than ten billion dollars annually, the majority from advertising.