TikTok users could be in for a shock as millions of songs may be scrapped from the platform in under 24 hours, including Harry Styles’ music.
Negotiations between the social media app and Universal Music Group, the corporation that owns the music, have broken down with the music industry titan publishing an open letter titled: “Why We Must Call Time Out On TikTok.”
The news comes at a pivotal moment for Harry Styles in particular as the former One Direction star celebrates his 30th birthday on February 1st and in just three days he’ll be ending his reign as Album of the Year Grammy winner.
The English singer was nominated for five awards at last year’s ceremony but walked home with just one statuette, the biggest of the evening, for his album Harry’s House.
Jon Batiste, Olivia Rodrigo, Janelle Monae, Lana Del Rey, Miley Cyrus, boygenius, SZA and Taylor Swift will be battling it out for the award on Sunday evening, although their music is also at risk over Tiktok’s negotiations.
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Universal Music Group raised “three critical issues” in their open letter regarding their contract renewal discussions, with the contract ultimately ending on yesterday, January 31.
The issues included “appropriate compensation” for music makers and providing better protection for them from artificial intelligence.
It also accused the app of being “flooded with AI-generated recording”.
TikTok reportedly responded to the company with “indifference” and “intimidation”, with UMG claiming the app tried to “bully us into accepting a deal worht less than the previous deal”.
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The company then claimed TikTok had been “selectively removing” music from rising artists while keeping globally renowned artists and hit tracks on the platform.
The social media platform itself has branded Universal Music Group’s claims “false”, saying it is “sad and disappointing” to see the company “put their own greed” above the artists they look after.
TikTok also noted it has been able to achieve an artist-first agreement with “every other label and publisher” in the industry.
Alongside Harry, Taylor Swift, Adele, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, The Beatles, The Weeknd, Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar, Drake and Elton John face a similar fate on the app.
