Taylor Swift’s tracks were back on TikTok after a 10-week hiatus amid a licensing dispute between the Chinese video-sharing app and the pop superstar’s label, Universal Music, the Financial Times.
Fans of the “You Belong With Me,” “Lover” and “Cruel Summer” singer were able to upload her hits to their videos for the first time since January 31.
Swift’s return to TikTok has been in the works for some time, FT added, citing people familiar with the matter – and comes ahead of the April 19 release of her next studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”
The pop superstar owns the copyright to his recordings through a 2018 deal with Universal that allows him to control where his work is made available, unlike many other artists, according to the report.
TikTok, Universal Music and representatives for Taylor Swift did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Swift’s tracks were removed from TikTok in February after the app and UMG – which owns the rights to music from superstars including Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish and Drake – failed to renew a licensing deal which expired at the end of January.
At the time, Universal Music accused TikTok of trying to “coerce” the world’s largest music company into a deal worth less than its previous deal – and it appears TikTok won’t. was unwilling to address issues of artificial intelligence and hacking.
TikTok countered that Universal was engaging in “false narratives and rhetoric.”
Variety reported that it’s possible that Swift has teamed up with TikTok to promote the upcoming release of “The Tortured Poets Department,” as she did for her last album of all-new material, “Midnights.”
For this album, the “Shake it off” singer provided a reveal video of each track on the album, exclusively to the platform. This could potentially indicate that an exception was made for Swift, with UMG’s agreement, Variety said.
While artists generally side with UMG when it comes to TikTok’s low royalty payments and inadequate AI protection, they also see the power of the app.
Over the past five years, TikTok has established itself as one of the most powerful platforms for discovering and promoting music.
Swift signed an exclusive deal with Universal Music Publishing Group, UMG’s parent company, in 2020 after starting her career at Sony/ATV.
New York Post
