Taylor Swift, Drake, BTS Music are quitting TikTok, here’s the big why and what it means
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Universal Music Group (UMG) is dropping a bombshell on TikTok. Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced that it will pull its entire music catalogue from TikTok when its contract with the service expires on January 31. For those unaware, UMG’s roster includes such megastars as Taylor Swift, BTS, Drake, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish, Eminem, Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, Karol G and Post Malone.
Why UMG is cutting ties with TikTok
Citing unfair compensation, rampant piracy, and a disturbing AI agenda, UMG announced the decision in an open letter. In a fiery open letter to its artists and songwriters, UMG blasted TikTok for its “exploitative” tactics. They accuse the platform of offering a pittance compared to other social media giants, failing to protect artists from piracy, and even actively promoting the creation of AI-generated music that could potentially replace human artists.
“TikTok proposed paying our artists and songwriters at a rate that’s a slap in the face,” the letter reads. “They want to build a music empire on the backs of our artists, while offering them pennies on the dollar.”
UMG further alleges that TikTok attempted to bully them into accepting a bad deal, even resorting to selectively removing music from up-and-coming artists while keeping megastars as bait. This move, UMG claims, is an attempt to divide and conquer, forcing them to accept unfair terms. In the letter, UMG said that when it proposed that TikTok take “similar steps as our other platform partners to try to address these issues, it responded first with indifference, and then with intimidation.”
What UMG leaving TikTok means
The consequences of this divorce can be hurtful for TikTok. Reason being that UMG boasts a roster of A-listers like Taylor Swift, BTS, Drake, and Ariana Grande, meaning a significant portion of TikTok’s soundtrack will disappear overnight. This could have a major impact on both platforms, leaving millions of users searching for new tunes and UMG artists potentially losing a key promotional platform.
UMG’s decision marks a turning point in the battle for fair compensation in the digital age. It’s a bold statement against tech giants who prioritize profits over artists’ rights. Whether this move inspires other music giants to follow suit or ultimately proves a Pyrrhic victory remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: the music on TikTok is about to get a whole lot quieter.
Why UMG is cutting ties with TikTok
Citing unfair compensation, rampant piracy, and a disturbing AI agenda, UMG announced the decision in an open letter. In a fiery open letter to its artists and songwriters, UMG blasted TikTok for its “exploitative” tactics. They accuse the platform of offering a pittance compared to other social media giants, failing to protect artists from piracy, and even actively promoting the creation of AI-generated music that could potentially replace human artists.
“TikTok proposed paying our artists and songwriters at a rate that’s a slap in the face,” the letter reads. “They want to build a music empire on the backs of our artists, while offering them pennies on the dollar.”
UMG further alleges that TikTok attempted to bully them into accepting a bad deal, even resorting to selectively removing music from up-and-coming artists while keeping megastars as bait. This move, UMG claims, is an attempt to divide and conquer, forcing them to accept unfair terms. In the letter, UMG said that when it proposed that TikTok take “similar steps as our other platform partners to try to address these issues, it responded first with indifference, and then with intimidation.”
What UMG leaving TikTok means
The consequences of this divorce can be hurtful for TikTok. Reason being that UMG boasts a roster of A-listers like Taylor Swift, BTS, Drake, and Ariana Grande, meaning a significant portion of TikTok’s soundtrack will disappear overnight. This could have a major impact on both platforms, leaving millions of users searching for new tunes and UMG artists potentially losing a key promotional platform.
UMG’s decision marks a turning point in the battle for fair compensation in the digital age. It’s a bold statement against tech giants who prioritize profits over artists’ rights. Whether this move inspires other music giants to follow suit or ultimately proves a Pyrrhic victory remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: the music on TikTok is about to get a whole lot quieter.
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