Universal Music Group Removes Top Artists' Songs from TikTok Amid Payment Dispute

Universal Music Group has pulled its songs from TikTok after failed licensing negotiations, resulting in videos on the platform having their audio muted or removed. The music giant accused TikTok of offering unsatisfactory payment for music and allowing its platform to be flooded with A.I.-generated recordings that diluted the royalty pool for real musicians. This move affects popular artists like Taylor Swift, Drake, the Weeknd, and Olivia Rodrigo, and the extent of the fallout on the platform is still unclear.