The music industry is facing a contentious issue as Universal Music Group (UMG) artists' music disappears from TikTok, leading creators to resort to royalty-free sound clips. This development has sparked a broader conversation about the fairness of music compensation, with artists like James Blake vocalizing concerns over the perception that music should be free, stating "The brainwashing worked and now people think music is free" and criticizing streaming services for inadequate payment. Kanye West shares James Blake’s message, emphasizing that "Streaming Services Don’t Pay Properly." The situation underscores the industry's dependency on platforms like TikTok, described as an "over-reliance," and raises questions about the sustainability of current business models. High-profile artists including Kanye West and Tyler, The Creator have echoed Blake's sentiments, highlighting the struggle for fair compensation in the face of the dispute over fees. The dispute has also resulted in the removal of tracks by major artists such as Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, and Billie Eilish from TikTok, affecting both artists and songwriters.
Who’s Getting Hurt in the Universal Music-TikTok Standoff? Artists and Songwriters (@aristake - @Variety) https://t.co/EBoRyv3O5e
Modified Audio Tracks Growing On TikTok After UMG/UMPG Row https://t.co/SjlEPwr7YM https://t.co/yDFmA1hUMs
Who’s Getting Hurt in the Universal Music-TikTok Standoff? Artists and Songwriters (Guest Column) https://t.co/pVnbsmKgHR
Kanye West & Tyler, The Creator co-sign James Blake's warning about music industry ⏩ READ MORE: https://t.co/NJ1ll3X0BL https://t.co/omptSLHfHa
Music missing from your TikTok? You're not alone. Songs by Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, and many more pulled as dispute over fees continues https://t.co/VHKK8H1HmT
This 👇🏽 Why is it so hard to understand that music artists need to get paid?! https://t.co/Lw2A6TNhqH
"The brainwashing worked and now people think music is free" - @jamesblake 🫡 Nothing we haven't been saying for years now. No lies here. I regard my music as #FineArt. It will be timeless. It will continue to be studied at schools and universities. The price is the price! https://t.co/RsmwCpxCdI
The music industry’s over-reliance on TikTok shows how lazy it has become (Shaad D'Souza - @guardian) https://t.co/U4sp5IXpVT
Kanye West Shares James Blake’s Message on Music Industry: ‘Streaming Services Don’t Pay Properly’ https://t.co/ZNIU9YJ998
James Blake on the complicated state of the music industry. https://t.co/whdJRvmMvh
.@jamesblake on TikTok and fairness for artists: “The brainwashing worked and now people think music is free” https://t.co/KaT0avsolT
As music from Universal Music Group artists disappears from TikTok, creators turn to royalty-free, almost-contextless sound clips (@thiccreese / Wired) https://t.co/x7qJkn9hsX 📫 Subscribe: https://t.co/OyWeKSRpIM https://t.co/8qBkyW7ll0