Universal Music pulls TikTok audio as license expires

Videos on TikTok went silent after licensing negotiations between the social media platform and Universal Music Group broke down. Universal accused TikTok of offering unsatisfactory payment and diluting the royalty pool for musicians with AI-generated recordings. As a result, TikTok confirmed the removal of Universal music, resulting in deleted recordings and muted audio in existing videos. Universal songs were also unavailable for users to add to new videos. TikTok accused Universal of prioritizing greed over their artists’ interests. The clash highlights the ongoing conflict between tech companies and the music industry’s demands. Despite the expiration of the licensing deal, negotiations are ongoing, and experts believe the situation will likely be resolved.