TikTok and UMG – Universal Music Group – announced that they’ve reached an agreement for music to be returned to TikTok after three months of negotiations, allowing TikTok users to add music to their videos again.
Because of this, popular songs from hit artists likeTaylor Swift,Harry Styles, andBillie Eilishwere removed from the platform.
This led to users having tobe creative when making new videosthat require music, such as using alternative tracks or even singing the songs themselves.
On May 1, UMG andTikTokrevealed they’d agreed on anew licensing agreementwhich means that UMG will make their music available for TikTok creators once again.
In the announcement, the two companies also revealed that as the music is returned to TikTok, they will work together to find new ways to monetize the music that will benefit both platforms. One of the things that will be added along with UMG’s music catalog are tools including “Add to Music App” which will let users save songs to their playlists directly from TikTok.
Artists will also have access to new data and analytic tools which will help them grow an audience as well as earn more money from the royalties when the songs are being used in a video.
UMG and TikTok also revealed they’d focus on protecting musicians and songwriters from AI technologies, and any unauthorized AI-generated music will be removed from the platform.
As of writing, no date has been set for when the UMG catalog will be back on TikTok.
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Alice Sjöberg is an Evergreen Specialist on Dexerto’s UK team, focusing on Entertainment content. She is an NCTJ qualified journalist, providing expert coverage of trending, viral news from X/Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. Alice also has bylines at The Mirror, MSN, Daily Express, OK! Magazine, and The Chronicle. You can contact her at: alice.sjoberg@dexerto.com
