Universal Music warns it’ll pull songs off TikTok after licensing deal expires

In an open letter to artists and songwriters, UMG claimed TikTok “is trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music.”

TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The massively popular video-sharing platform, owned by China-based Bytedance, is a huge influencer in the music world and UMG said its analysis found “a majority of content on TikTok” contains music, more so than other social networks.

UMG, which is one of the world’s largest music companies, said in the letter that it has been unable to reach an agreement with TikTok over three key issues: compensation for artists, protecting human artists from the “harmful effects” of AI, and online safety of TikTok’s users.

“TikTok proposed paying our artists and songwriters at a rate that is a fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay,” UMG said, adding that TikTok “is allowing the platform to be flooded with AI-generated recordings … in a move that is nothing short of sponsoring artist replacement by AI.”

UMG said TikTok was indifferent to its concerns, and tried to “bully” the company into accepting a deal worth less than the current one.

Other UMG artists include Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Harry Styles, U2, Pearl Jam, Justin Bieber, Adele, Elton John and Bob Dylan.

UMG’s Amsterdam-listed shares
UMG,
+0.95%
have risen about 18% over the past 12 months.