Taylor Swift and Other Universal Music Group Artists' Music May Be Removed from TikTok

Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and other Universal Music Group artists may soon find their music absent from TikTok. This potential removal stems from a licensing stalemate that underscores deeper issues within the music streaming and social media landscape.

Central to the dispute is UMG’s demand for “appropriate compensation for our artists and songwriters,” a stance that highlights the ongoing debate over the value of music in the digital age.

Further complicating matters are concerns regarding the “harmful effects of AI” on human artists, with UMG criticizing TikTok for its practices that they argue could lead to artist replacement by AI technologies.

Moreover, UMG has taken issue with the financial terms offered by TikTok, accusing the platform of proposing payment rates “significantly lower than those of major social platforms.”