TikTok is removing even more music as it argues with UMG

TikTok is now taking down all of the songs written or co-written by artists signed to Common Music Group (UMG) because the platform’s battle over music rights drags on.

“We’re within the strategy of finishing up Common Music Group’s requirement to take away all songs which have been written (or co-written) by a songwriter signed to Common Music Publishing Group, based mostly on data they’ve supplied,” TikTok writes in a statement on its website. “Their actions not solely have an effect on the songwriters and artists that they signify, however now additionally influence many artists and songwriters not signed to Common.”

On Tuesday, Variety reported that TikTok was set to lose much more UMG songs, nevertheless it wasn’t clear what number of could be affected. This may also influence artists who aren’t signed to UMG however have publishing offers with the label, together with Harry Types, Steve Lacy, and SZA, in response to a report from Rolling Stone.

In early February, TikTok began removing songs from UMG’s hottest artists, together with Taylor Swift, Drake, and Olivia Rodrigo, after the 2 corporations didn’t renew their music licensing settlement. UMG claims TikTok tried to “bully” it into reaching an unfair deal that didn’t deal with the label’s issues about AI-generated music and artist compensation. The fallout has left many TikTok videos with UMG songs silent.

“We stay dedicated to reaching an equitable settlement with Common Music Group,” TikTok says. “Within the meantime, music lovers can proceed to get pleasure from, uncover and share hundreds of thousands of tracks from artists, songwriters and labels on TikTok, and we are going to proceed to attach all artists – together with these whose music just isn’t at present obtainable on our platform – with their followers.”

As TikTok creators wrestle with out entry to songs from their favourite artists, YouTube is making an attempt to court docket shortform video makers with a new music video remix feature it launched earlier this month, which options songs from UMG’s catalog.