TikTok and Universal Music Group (UMG) have come to an agreement that will allow users of the social network to use songs from artists like Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny in their videos once again. This licensing agreement will bring the songs of UMG artists back to TikTok, with new terms for remuneration and protection from artificial intelligence.
The deal focuses on the value of music, the importance of human art, and the well-being of the creative community, according to Universal Music Group president and CEO Lucian Grainge. Users will now have access to UMG’s song catalog, with artists such as Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, Ariana Grande, and Drake available for use in videos.
Both parties have agreed on new ways for artists to monetize their music on the platform, as well as tools for analytics and integrated sales capabilities to help them connect with fans globally. Measures have also been put in place to protect the value of human art and the economy for artists and composers in the face of AI developments, including the removal of unauthorized AI-generated music from TikTok.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew expressed his satisfaction with the renewed relationship with Universal Music Group, noting that music plays a crucial role in the platform’s ecosystem. Following the agreement, both TikTok and UMG are working to make the songs available to users in a timely manner for video creation.