- Universal Music Group announced that their agreement would not be renewed
It appears Universal Music will pull all its songs from TikTok after a breakdown in talks over the social media site’s licensing deal.
In an open letter, the group accused TikTok of “bullying,” adding that they were only willing to pay a “fraction” of the rate offered by other platforms for its catalog of millions of songs, but Chinese social media called this a “false story’.
Although Universal claims that the social media platform, with more than a billion users, only accounts for one percent of their revenue, this move will result in the removal of many of TikTok users’ favorite artists and sounds.
Artists signed to the world’s biggest label include Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Drake and many more.
Below, read a list of some of the biggest names and songs that will be affected by the record company’s decision.
Taylor Swift, Spotify’s most streamed artist of 2023, will no longer be available to sample on TikTok. Pictured in Sao Paulo, Brazil, during her Eras tour in November
Universal Music Group announced they would not renew their licensing deal with the social media platform, after talks over payment collapsed
Beyoncé and Drake will also have their songs pulled from the social media platform as they are signed to UMG labels
Seven of the 10 most-streamed artists of 2023 globally on Spotify are leaving TikTok as a result of Universal Music Group’s (UMG) song pull.
They are led by Taylor Swift, with tThe world’s most streamed artist of the past year will no longer be accessible to TikTok users from February 1.
Bad Bunny, The Weeknd and Drake rounded out the top four, and they’re all also signed to Universal companies, including Republic and Virgin Music.
Those who did not sign to the label and made the top 10 were Peso Pluma, Feid and Travis Scott.
However, the remaining SZA, KAROL G and Lana Del Rey will all be leaving the platform as well.
The streaming giant’s top numbers were also dominated by Universal artists, with Miley Cyrus taking number one with Flowers.
Harry Styles’ As It Was will also be removed.
Other major artists signed to the company’s labels include some of the industry’s biggest names, both today and historically.
To name a fraction: The Beatles, Elton John, Ariana Grande, BTS, Billie Eilish, Post Malone and Bob Dylan.
And on top of that, many of TikTok’s most popular songs, which may not be from the biggest artists in the world, will also be cut, such as Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Murder On The Dance Floor.
As a result of the move, many viral songs on the platform will no longer be available to sample, including Murder On The Dance Floor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor (pictured)
Post Malone (seen performing on New Year’s Eve) signed with UMG’s Republic Records in 2015
The British Adele and Elton Joh have also signed a contract with the largest record label in the world