Songs from some of music’s biggest artistes, such as Taylor Swift, Drake, Masicka, Sean Paul, and Shenseea, will officially return to TikTok as the social media platform and Universal Music Group(UMG) agreed on terms around the licensing of their catalogue and use of Artificial Intelligence.
The resolution between the two companies was announced in a joint statement on Wednesday.
“Universal Music Group, the world leader in music-based entertainment and TikTok, today announced a new multi-dimensional licensing agreement,” the statement also read that the deal will “deliver significant industry-leading benefits for UMG’s global family of artistes, songwriters and labels and will return their music to TikTok’s billion-plus global community.”
“The joint agreement marks a new era of strategic collaboration between the two organisations, built on a shared commitment to help UMG’s artistes and songwriters achieve their creative and commercial potential.”
Chief Digital Officer and EVP of Universal Music Group, Michael Nash said:
“We’re gratified to renew our relationship with TikTok predicated on significant advancements in commercial and marketing opportunities as well as protections provided to our industry-leading roster on their platform. With the constantly evolving ways that social interaction, fan engagement, music discovery and artistic ingenuity converge on TikTok, we see great potential in our collaboration going forward.”
TikTok’s Global Head of Music Business Development, Ole Obermann, also reiterated delight in the renewed partnership.
“We are delighted to welcome UMG and UMPG back to TikTok. We look forward to working together to forge a path that creates deeper connections between artistes, creators, and fans.”
The deal clears the way for the return of songs from Shenseea, Masicka, Drake and all other artistes who fall under UMG’s subsidiaries like Def Jam, Republic, Interscope Records, etc.
On January 31, UMG pulled its entire licensable music catalogue from the platform following a previous impasse with TikTok.
