Universal Music Group (UMG) and TikTok recently announced a renewal of their licensing agreement. This includes a promise to remove unauthorized AI-generated music from the platform to improve how artists and songwriters are credited.
In a joint announcement, UMG said the agreement “expands TikTok and UMG’s groundbreaking work in protecting AI that promotes human artistry and ensures that the economics of the platform are effectively passed on to artists and songwriters. Together, TikTok and UMG will work to remove unauthorized AI-generated music from the platform while further improving attribution for artists and songwriters.”
This new agreement represents a notable change in the relationship between UMG and TikTok.
UMG has been pushing platforms, streaming services, and AI companies to adopt stricter content moderation policies for years. Tensions between UMG and TikTok intensified in 2024 when UMG accused TikTok of not addressing issues related to AI-generated music and copyright. This public controversy led UMG to temporarily remove its music catalog from TikTok. The decision highlights the app’s dependence on major label licenses after popular songs disappeared from user videos overnight.
The timing of TikTok’s crackdown on fake and unlicensed music is particularly important as the music industry grapples with an influx of AI-generated content. In recent years, the industry has grown concerned about AI tools that can mimic an artist’s voice or exploit streaming algorithms to create fake songs. AI-generated viral tracks that imitated big names like Drake and The Weeknd caused widespread concern, especially one that racked up millions of streams before being removed.
The deal could also serve as a template for how the broader technology industry navigates the collision of AI, intellectual property, and platform accountability. As the EU tightens its regulations on AI-generated content (and U.S. states increasingly follow suit), pressure is mounting for other platforms to formalize similar governance frameworks.
TikTok has worked to prove to the music industry that it can generate significant revenue for artists and rights holders. Last year, the platform launched TikTok for Artists, an insights platform aimed at boosting artist promotions and providing music labels with access to data.
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