Universal Music Group announced Tuesday that it will remove its song catalog from TikTok on Jan. 31 after the two companies failed to reach an agreement on a licensing deal.

Songs from major artists such as Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, and Drake will no longer be available on the platform. UMG is open letter We addressed the issue at hand to artists and songwriters with the title “Why you should request a timeout on TikTok.''

“Ultimately, TikTok is trying to build a music-based business without paying a fair price for music,” they said in an open letter.

Our core mission is simple. Our mission is to help artists and songwriters realize their full creative and commercial potential. That's why I have to take a hiatus from TikTok.

learn more: https://t.co/yJDQ7FdgNc pic.twitter.com/Lhluz1ez5H

— Universal Music Group (@UMG) January 31, 2024

UMG detailed its dissatisfaction with TikTok and the nature of the breakdown in negotiations between the two companies.

“During our contract renewal discussions, we pressed them on three important issues: adequate compensation for artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok users. ” UMG wrote.

“TikTok has offered to pay our artists and songwriters at a fraction of the rates paid by similarly situated major social platforms,” ​​UMG continued in a public statement, noting that TikTok will He also pointed out that it only accounts for about 1% of the total.

UMG charged that AI-generated recordings are flooding TikTok, potentially diluting royalties for human artists.

TikTok users will be immediately affected as they will no longer be able to use music recorded by UMG artists in their TikTok videos.

TikTok issued a statement regarding Universal Music Group's plans to remove artists' songs from the platform after negotiations over payments broke down.

“The fact is they chose to walk away from the strong support of a platform that has well over a billion users… pic.twitter.com/xMipsFW5Fm

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) January 31, 2024

“We recognize the challenges that TikTok’s actions will cause and do not underestimate what this means for artists and their fans. “We are among those exposed to the short-term consequences of not wanting to attack close ones,” UMG wrote, “evaluating the transaction and meaningfully addressing our obligations as a social platform.”

TikTok condemned UMG in a statement issued Tuesday night following UMG's decision.

“It is sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group put their own desires above the interests of artists and songwriters,” the statement said. “Despite Universal's false narrative and rhetoric, the fact is that they are walking away from the strong support of a platform with well over 1 billion users that serves as a means to promote and discover their talent for free. It means that you have chosen to do so.”

TikTok went on to blame UMG for the breakdown, saying that UMG was “able to reach 'artist-first' agreements with all other labels and publishers.”

The app condemned UMG, concluding that “Universal's self-serving actions are clearly not in the best interest of artists, songwriters, or fans.” (Related: Netflix releases streaming data for 'transparency')

UMG's decision to remove its catalog from TikTok comes days before the Grammy Awards, one of the entertainment industry's biggest events.

Employees at TikTok and its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance allegedly have access to politicians' private connections, Forbes reports. report In September 2023. (Related: FBI, Justice Department investigate TikTok's parent company over surveillance of Americans: report)

Several statesimilarly us governmentwhich has banned the TikTok app from government devices in recent months, citing surveillance concerns that the app is at least partially controlled by the Chinese government.