Universal Music Group and TikTok have signed what they call a “new multidimensional licensing agreement.”
According to a joint press release issued today (May 2), the deal “delivers significant industry-leading benefits to UMG's global artists, songwriters, and labels, making their music available to TikTok's 1 billion users.” “This will give back to the global community as described above.”
UMG and TikTok said they are “currently working quickly” to bring songs from artists represented by Universal Music Group and songwriters represented by Universal Music Publishing Group back to TikTok “in due course.”
MBW understands that universal A catalog of about 4 million songs and about 3 million recordings will be available on TikTok within a week or two. At that stage, all previously muted videos will be deleted. unmute.
Sir Lucien Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, said: “This new chapter in our relationship with TikTok focuses on the value of music, the primacy of human artistry, and the well-being of our community of creatives.
“We look forward to working with the team at TikTok to drive innovation in fan engagement while elevating the interest of artists and songwriters and monetizing social music.”
Credit: Sthanlee B. Mirador/Sipa USA/Alamy
“This new chapter in our relationship with TikTok focuses on the value of music, the primacy of human artistry, and the well-being of our creative community.”
Sir Lucian Grainge, Universal Music Group
TikTok CEO Hsu Chu added:We are an integral part of the TikTok ecosystem and are pleased to have found a path forward with Universal Music Group.
“We are committed to working together to advance the value, discovery and promotion of all of UMG's amazing artists and songwriters and deepen their ability to grow, connect and engage with the TikTok community. Masu.”
This announcement marks the end of a long-running licensing dispute between the two companies.
TikTok is not on good terms universal music group This was revealed at the end of January when UMG announced that its contract with TikTok would expire on January 31, 2024.
UMG confirmed that the two companies have not agreed to new contract terms, and that after the contract expires, UMG, including Universal Music Publishing Group, willSuspend content license” to TikTok and TikTok Music services.
Alongside this announcement, Universal released an “open letter to the artist and songwriter community,” detailing why negotiations between the two companies ended without an agreement.
In the letter, UMG said that while negotiating a contract renewal with TikTok, there are “three key priorities” including “adequate compensation for our artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online.” “We have been putting pressure on” the platform on “issues of concern,” he said. We keep TikTok users safe. ”
The new agreement is expected to address these issues.
As part of the deal, the companies said they will “work together to realize new monetization opportunities” using TikTok's e-commerce capabilities, a campaign that supports UMG's artists across genres and regions around the world. The company plans to cooperate with the government.
TikTok also said it will continue to “invest significant resources in building artist-centric tools” to help UMG artists “realize their potential” on the platform.
Additionally, TikTok says that tools such as the “Add to Music App” feature, data and analytics, and integrated ticketing features are “economical for artists, as well as leveraging TikTok's scale and engaged community to create a global “It will also provide benefits for building fan bases, while increasing online safety protection for artists and performers.” I'm their fan. ”
“Music isWe are an integral part of the TikTok ecosystem and are pleased to have found a path forward with Universal Music Group. ”
Shochu, TikTok
Additionally, TikTok and UMG said they will work together “to ensure that AI developments across the music industry protect human artistry and the economies that flow to these artists and songwriters.”
TikTok also committed to working with UMG on tools to remove unapproved AI-generated music from the platform, as well as improve attribution for artists and songwriters.
In an announcement, the joint agreement marks “a new era of strategic cooperation between the two organizations, built on a shared commitment to helping UMG's artists and songwriters achieve their creative and commercial potential.” It shows that,” he added.
The statement continued: “By leveraging TikTok's best-in-class technology, marketing and promotion capabilities, UMG and TikTok will provide UMG's songwriters and artists with improved compensation, new promotion and engagement opportunities for their recordings and songs, and and provides industry-leading protection.” Towards generative AI”.
“We're excited to have UMG and UMPG back on TikTok.”
Ole Oberman, TikTok
Ole Obermann, TikTok's global head of music business development, said in a statement released Thursday:
“We look forward to working together to forge a path that creates deeper connections between artists, creators, and fans. In particular, we look forward to working together to forge a path that creates deeper connections between artists, creators, and fans. In particular, we look forward to working together to forge a path that creates deeper connections between artists, creators, and fans. In particular, we will protect human creativity while enabling a new era of musical creativity and fan engagement.” We will work together to ensure that AI tools are developed responsibly.”
“Forging transformative partnerships with key innovators is critical to UMG’s commitment to fostering an environment in which artists and songwriters can thrive.”
Michael Nash, Universal Music Group
Michael Nash, Chief Digital Officer and Vice President, Universal Music Group, added: “Forging transformational partnerships with key innovators is essential to his UMG commitment to fostering an environment in which artists and songwriters can thrive.
“We are pleased to renew our relationship with TikTok given the significant advancements in commercial and marketing opportunities and protections provided to our industry-leading roster on the platform.
“The way social interaction, fan engagement, music discovery, and artistic ingenuity come together on TikTok is constantly evolving, and we see great potential for future collaborations.”
March 1st, Universal Music Publishing Its catalog of approximately 4 million songs is no longer authorized for use on TikTok, joining UMG's recording portfolio of approximately 3 million songs, but its license on TikTok expired without renewal on February 1st.
Days after this shocking news, Downtown, Hipgnosis, and NMPA rallied behind Universal Music Group in its fight against TikTok.
UMG also gained another supporter in this fight. A2IM is a U.S. trade association representing more than 600 independent recorded music companies, including Beggars Group, Secretly Group, Partisan, Cinq Music, Better Noise, and Yep Roc.
In March, Emmanuel de Bretel, founder of France-based independent label Because Music and former Virgin and EMI executive, supported Universal Music Group in its licensing dispute with TikTok. Then he announced.
On March 14th, we learned the following: universal music group (UMG) and tick tockpublished by UMG 37,000 removal requests As a result of posting on TikTok, 120 million videos It's muted.
By the time MBW published its article, TikTok had already muted the audio of the videos it featured. UMG license However, that detection mechanism was being bypassed by user-uploaded “modified” (changes such as increased speeds) versions of UMG-owned trucks.
About a month later, on Thursday, April 11, the music of Taylor Swift, one of Universal Music Group's biggest stars, started airing again. tick tock – despite a licensing dispute between the social media platform and UMG.
Swift has a recording and publishing contract with UMG. UMG's Republic Records is Swift's U.S. label, and she signed a deal with Universal Music Publishing Group in 2020.
As we explained last week, Swift is famous in the music industry for having insane control over her music.
as hollywood reporter Swift said she has owned the publishing rights to her songs since 2019. meanwhile, variety He speculated that TikTok likely “reached a separate deal with Swift” since she owns many of her master recordings.
Swift's return to TikTok arrives about a week before the release of her latest album. tortured poet section, On the same day, TikTok revealed details of an exclusive campaign for the superstar's album. This included an in-app experience with multiple “first-of-its-kind features.”
Since joining TikTok in 2021, Taylor Swift has amassed more followers than 25.3 million Across all of her content, she has received over 223.7 million likes.
TikTok reports that hashtags related to the singer “continue to receive high engagement,” with the #SwiftTok hashtag growing into overdrive. 2.4 million Proceed from creating videos and #TaylorsVersion 2000000 video.world music business
