Which singers will take their music off TikTok and when?

Universal Music Group says it plans to stop licensing its music to TikTok amid a contract dispute with the social-media platform, preventing TikTokers from listening to an extensive catalogue featuring tracks by a host of major artists.

TikTok not “paying fair value for music”, Universal says

In an open letter published on Tuesday, Universal said negotiations over an extension to its current licensing agreement with TikTok, which is about to expire, have stalled because the Chinese-owned service is refusing to fairly remunerate the record company’s artists and songwriters.

This, Universal argued, is despite TikTok’s success being “in large part” down to its access to the label’s music catalogue.

“TikTok proposed paying our artists and songwriters at a rate that is a fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay,” Universal said, adding: “Ultimately TikTok is trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music.”

Universal also said it was dissatisfied with the platform’s proposals for “protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok’s users”.

Which artists are being pulled from TikTok and when?

Universal and TikTok’s current contract runs out at the end of today, 31 January 2024, so the music company’s catalogue will disappear from the social-media service from tomorrow, 1 February 2024.

The many major performers whose songs will no longer be available on TikTok include: Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, Rosalía, Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, J Balvin, U2, Adele, Coldplay and Post Malone.

You can check out the full list of artists and songwriters on Universal Music Group’s official website.

TikTok hits back at “self-serving” Universal

In the wake of Universal’s open letter, TikTok responded on Tuesday with a statement that accused the label of spreading a “false narrative”.

“It is sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters,” TikTok said.

“Despite Universal’s false narrative and rhetoric, the fact is they have chosen to walk away from the powerful support of a platform with well over a billion users that serves as a free promotional and discovery vehicle for their talent.

“TikTok has been able to reach ‘artist-first’ agreements with every other label and publisher. Clearly, Universal’s self-serving actions are not in the best interests of artists, songwriters and fans. "