TikTok has run out of songs from Taylor Swift, Drake and other Universal Music artists.

Universal Music Group (UGM) began removing songs from TikTok by artists such as Taylor Swift, Drake, Ariana Grande and Olivia Rodrigo.after failing to reach an agreement in negotiations to extend a contract that allows the Chinese social network to use the record label’s songs.

UGM even published an open letter in which it demanded a series of demands from TikTok to renew its licensing agreements, which expired on January 31. Universal, one of the largest record labels in the world, approached the platform with a request best payment terms for artists and songwriters, as well as better protections against songs created by artificial intelligence and measures against “hate speech, intolerance and harassment” that artists suffer on the platform.

The seal also said that TikTok even bullied them by deleting songs from up-and-coming artists who work with Universal., while retaining the names of the most popular artists for the platform’s own benefit. UGM’s letter states that if TikTok had not given in sooner, they would have removed the content they were distributing, much to the frustration of the social network’s users, who suffer the most from the inability to use audio or listen. to the songs in the video.

Songs by Taylor Swift, Drake, Ariana Grande and others are no longer appearing on TikTok.

As you saw Hypertextsongs by artists such as Taylor Swift, Lana del Rey, Olivia Rodrigo, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish or Drake and others, They no longer appear on their respective profiles. and the app shows the message “this music is currently unavailable.” There are practically no remixes that are not distributed through Universal Music.

Some songs They are also not in the published videos. official audio recordings were used here, although few continue to provide audio. On other TikToks, however, it is almost impossible to play the track and a message is displayed that “the sound has been removed due to copyright restrictions.”

TikTok has not commented on the matter at this time, other than to respond to Universal Music’s letter, in which it called it “disappointing” that the label had decided to “move away from its strong support for a platform with over a billion subscribers.” “users”.

More support for singers and control over generative artificial intelligence; UGM requirements

We reiterate that Universal Music Group has requested a number of conditions from TikTok to extend its licensing contract, which allows the social network to use songs from artists signed to the label. UGM, in particular, requested “adequate compensation” for both artists and songwriters, after TikTok negotiated with them “a rate that is a fraction of the rate paid by major social platforms in a similar situation.”

The record label also asked TikTok “protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI”after verifying that the platform “sponsors replacement of artists by artificial intelligence”, allowing the use of songs created by artificial intelligence and launching generative artificial intelligence tools allowing users to create their own versions.

On the other hand, UGM emphasizes that TikTok makes no effort to remove infringing content. The platform also “has failed to offer meaningful solutions to the rising tide of content adjacency issues.” especially against the wave of hate speech, intolerance, bullying and harassment on the platform– says the seal. Universal Music says its current reporting process is “extremely cumbersome and ineffective” and is calling for change.

UGM measures harm artists and users, as well as the social network

Outputting songs to TIK Tak This is a somewhat interesting move on UGM’s part. First of all, if you take into account the great presentation that the social network provides for both small and large artists.

In fact, according to the company’s latest reports, users are discovering more new music on TikTok than any other social network. There are hundreds of songs that first went viral on the platform and then reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and the Chinese social network. It also contributed to the glorification of emerging artists. Not to mention, many artists write and produce songs with the goal of making them go viral on TikTok.

At the same time, the fact that TikTok has become one of the largest social networks in the world is also largely due to the music of the artists and composers who worked at Universal Music Group. Most TikTok videos contain songs. Therefore, the fact that many of them are no longer available also represents a major setback for the Chinese app. In any case, Universal emphasized that the main thing for them is reach an agreement whereby artists are adequately compensated for their work.