TikTok users can once again create music clips using tracks from the UMG catalog featuring some of today's biggest names in music, including Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Ariana Grande. After months of wrangling, the social media platform and Universal Music Group (UMG) have finally reached a truce with a new content licensing agreement. The companies did not disclose financial terms of the deal.
The move comes at a critical time for the company. TikTok is under threat of further bans in major markets, including the United States. Therefore, this win for UMG is important not only to strengthen its content, but also to raise its profile among consumers that TikTok hopes to rally around. The company has decided to fight the threat of a U.S. ban in court, but it could also capitalize on positive news like this.
Your catalog will be available for video creation within 1-2 weeks. This also means that existing videos with his UMG music that were muted will be unmuted once the catalog becomes available.
“TikTok fans can look forward to the return of UMG's recorded music and publishing catalog and once again enjoy creating videos with music from the world's biggest artists and songwriters, as well as exciting emerging talent. ” TikTok said in a post.
The deal comes after some of Taylor Swift's music was returned to TikTok last month. The main reason is that Taylor Swift owns the masters of some of the albums.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew said he was pleased the company had “found a way forward” with UMG after the spat.
“Music is an essential part of the TikTok ecosystem, and we are thrilled to have found a path forward with Universal Music Group. “We are committed to working with them to foster and deepen their ability to grow, connect, and engage with the TikTok community,” he said.
Earlier this year, UMG removed its catalog from the short video platform after refusing to renew its contract with TikTok. Separately, UMG has signed a new deal with Spotify for music videos.