Everyone's For You Page might be getting quieter and quieter in the coming days as TikTok carries out Universal Music Group's directive to pull out more songs from the platform.
The move came after UMG and TikTok failed to strike up a fair contract between them, prompting the removal of hundreds and thousands of songs from the once-bustling platform.
Why Are More Songs Removed From TikTok?
A new statement from TikTok revealed that any songwriter who signed to UMG, whose songs still remain on the platform, shall also be removed.
"We are in the process of carrying out Universal Music Group's requirement to remove all songs that have been written (or co-written) by a songwriter signed to Universal Music Publishing Group, based on information they have provided," they said. "Their actions not only affect the songwriters and artists that they represent, but now also impact many artists and songwriters not signed to Universal."
For example, songs of artists like Harry Styles, SZA, Steve Lacy, and even Bad Bunny, who aren't signed to Universal Records but have a publishing deal under them, will also be affected by this monumental move. (via Rolling Stone)
As of this writing, Universal Music Group has not yet given out a statement addressing the new rounds of removal.
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Universal Music Group vs TikTok Explained
In February 2024, UMG published an open letter titled, "An Open Letter to the Artist And Songwriter Community - Why We Must Call Time Out On TikTok," pressing out three significant points why they are sticking to the nuclear option of pulling out their entire catalog from TikTok.
"In our contract renewal discussions, we have been pressing them on three critical issues," they said in a statement, which includes protection from AI-generated recordings, online safety issues for users, and higher compensation for its artists and songwriters.
The glaring problem the company has pointed out is that in the new contract, TikTok doesn't want to increase their rate of paying the artists for the songs licensed despite "its massive and growing user base, rapidly rising advertising revenue and increasing reliance on music-based content."
Meanwhile, TikTok clapped back. "It is sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters," they said in a statement.
They also pointed out that they were able to strike "artist-first" agreements with other labels and publishers.
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