Universal Music Group's TikTok Music Removal Sparks Controversy Among Artists

Jack Antonoff, a producer who frequently collaborates with Taylor Swift, criticized Universal Music Group's decision to pull its song catalog from TikTok after failing to reach a new licensing deal, calling it "ass-backwards." UMG accused TikTok of proposing to pay artists and songwriters at a fraction of the rate that other major social platforms pay, while TikTok responded by accusing UMG of prioritizing greed over the interests of artists and songwriters. The issue has sparked a debate within the music industry, with artists expressing concern for developing artists and hoping for a resolution.