Universal Music Group (UMG) and TikTok have reached a new deal, allowing UMG’s entire song catalog and music videos to return to the TikTok platform.
Advertisement
The previous agreement between the two parties had expired on January 31, 2024, and they were unable to reach a new agreement due to a disagreement over royalty payments.
UMG had accused TikTok of offering unfair compensation to their artists and songwriters, and threatened to remove their content from the platform.
However, the rift has now been resolved, and both organizations have announced a new multi-dimensional licensing agreement.
This agreement will provide significant industry-leading benefits for UMG’s global family of artists, songwriters, and labels, and will return their music to TikTok’s vast global community of over a billion users.
The new deal marks a strategic collaboration between UMG and TikTok, built on a shared commitment to help UMG’s artists and songwriters achieve their creative and commercial potential.
Advertisement
The agreement will ensure improved remuneration for UMG’s songwriters and artists, as well as new promotional and engagement opportunities for their recordings and songs, along with industry-leading protections with respect to generative AI.
Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, expressed his enthusiasm for this new chapter in the relationship between the two organizations, stating that it focuses on the value of music, the primacy of human artistry, and the welfare of the creative community.
This development is particularly significant for the African music industry, as it will allow the return of popular artists such as Stonebwoy, Yemi Alade, Mr. Eazi, Sauti Sol, Techno, Nasty C, Vanessa Mdee, Youssou N’Dour, and others to the TikTok platform.
Additionally, the return of African music, including the official song of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), “Akwaba,” will be a welcome development for fans and the broader African music ecosystem.
Leave a Reply