After 10 weeks of being absent from the platform, Taylor Swift’s music has returned to TikTok — or no less than her newer songs and “Taylor’s Version” cuts, since she owns these masters.
Taylor Swift’s music, and music from all artists signed to Common Music Group, was pulled from TikTok when the 2 events have been unable to come back to a renewed licensing settlement. UMG revealed a scathing press launch accusing TikTok of attempting to “bully” the label into accepting a deal price lower than its earlier one. UMG framed its refusal to come back to a cope with TikTok as a method of standing up for rising artists.
“How did [TikTok] try to intimidate us? By selectively removing the music of certain of our developing artists, while keeping on the platform our audience-driving global stars,” UMG wrote. “TikTok’s tactics are obvious: use its platform power to hurt vulnerable artists and try to intimidate us into conceding to a bad deal that undervalues music and shortchanges artists and songwriters as well as their fans.”
TikTok didn’t reply to a request for remark.
UMG additionally represents superstars like Billie Eilish, BTS, Ariana Grande and Olivia Rodrigo, however Swift is in a novel place. After contractual disputes of her personal, Swift has been re-recording her old albums to reclaim possession of the songs. Her “Taylor’s Version” recordings are again on TikTok, however songs from data like “Reputation,” which doesn’t but have a “Taylor’s Version,” are nonetheless absent from the platform.
The timing of Swift’s return to TikTok isn’t a coincidence. Subsequent week, Swift will launch her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” Even artists as big as Swift should not proof against the need for social media advertising — and if followers can’t make TikToks utilizing sounds from the brand new report, the album may be … barely much less ubiquitous? However the partnership is helpful for TikTok too. With a fanbase like Swift’s, it’s inevitable that quite a few audio developments will emerge from the album, and TikTok received’t wish to miss out on that engagement, particularly since Reels could have that music anyway.
