TikTok and Universal Music Group settle dispute over music royalties

CNBC TV18

By Anand Singha

Published May 2, 2024

Songs Restoration:  Millions of songs, including those from artists like Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande, will return to TikTok.

Accusations Exchanged:  Dispute arose over payment issues, leading to accusations traded between the two companies.

Improved Remuneration: Settlement includes "improved remuneration" for artists, though exact figures undisclosed.

Taylor Swift’s Agreement:  Taylor Swift had already agreed separately to return her music to TikTok due to owning copyright.

Collaborative Efforts:  Universal's Sir Lucian Grainge and TikTok's Shou Zi Chew express commitment to collaboration for artist and songwriter interests.

Drake and The Weeknd Return:  Two big stars returning to the platform following previous AI-related dispute.

AI Protections:  Agreement includes "industry-leading protections" around AI, aiming to safeguard human artistry.

Commitment to Responsible AI Development:  Both companies vow to develop AI tools responsibly to protect human creativity.

Artists’ Concerns:  Billie Eilish and Nicki Minaj have urged tech firms to refrain from creating AI music generation tools.

Whether the commitments fully address artists’ concerns remains to be seen.