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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

TikTok and UMG Agree to Remove Unauthorized AI Music, Protect Artists

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Universal Music Group (UMG) and TikTok have extended their licensing agreement, committing to remove unauthorized AI-generated music.
  • The renewed partnership aims to protect human artistry and ensure fair economic distribution to artists and songwriters.
  • This deal resolves a dispute from 2024 where UMG temporarily removed its catalog over concerns about AI music and copyright infringement.

Universal Music Group (UMG) and TikTok have renewed their licensing agreement, a move that includes a commitment to remove unauthorized AI-generated music from the platform. This collaboration aims to bolster protections for human-created art and ensure that artists and songwriters receive fair compensation.

The joint announcement signals a significant step in the relationship between UMG and TikTok, which had experienced tension throughout 2024. UMG had previously voiced strong criticism of TikTok, citing insufficient action against AI-generated music and copyright violations on the platform. This disagreement led to UMG temporarily withdrawing its music catalog, causing popular songs to disappear from millions of user videos worldwide.

TikTok's agreement to address illegal or unauthorized AI music comes amid growing concerns within the global music industry regarding generative AI technology. Tools capable of mimicking famous artists' voices or producing music that exploits streaming platform algorithms have become increasingly sophisticated. Controversies have erupted over AI-generated songs that gained millions of streams by imitating well-known musicians before being removed for copyright and personal rights infringements.

TikTok and UMG will work together to remove unauthorized AI-generated music from the platform, while further enhancing attribution for artists and songwriters.

— UMG and TikTokIn a joint statement announcing the extended licensing agreement.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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