The upcoming stand-off between TikTok and Universal Music Group (UMG) could have a significant impact on the music industry. If a renewed licensing deal is not signed by March 1, UMG’s publishing catalog, which represents over 4 million songs, will become unlicensed for use on the popular platform. This, combined with the earlier removal of UMG’s distributed recordings catalog, could result in a large portion of relevant repertoire being affected on TikTok. Industry sources estimate that up to 80% of current hits on the platform may be at risk. The ‘split copyrights’ issue means that even a small contribution from a UMPG songwriter could lead to the removal of an entire recording from TikTok. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing situation.
The Impact of TikTok vs. UMG Stand-off on the Music Industry
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