If you’ve been scrolling TikTok this week and have noticed a suspicious lack of music from hit artists like Taylor Swift, Drake and Olivia Rodrigo, it’s because of a licensing issue with Universal Music Group.
The music corporation and the social media platform failed to strike a new deal this week to license Universal’s various artists on TikTok, per USA TODAY. Therefore, music will be restricted from use on the platform until said deal is reached.
“We have an overriding responsibility to our artists to fight for a new agreement under which they are appropriately compensated for their work, on a platform that respects human creativity, in an environment that is safe for all, and effectively moderated,” Universal Music Group shared in a statement on its website.
TikTok pushed back on the decision from Universal, saying in a statement that it’s “sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters,” per USAT.
Until the situation gets resolved, the platform will not host music from any of the artists that have catalogs part of the label.
USA TODAY notes that artists affected by the Universal TikTok block include BTS, Bad Bunny, Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Ariana Grande, Harry Styles and Billie Eilish, among others.
