Taylor Swift’s Music Returns to TikTok Ahead of Album Release Amid Royalty Dispute
Taylor Swift’s music has made a comeback on TikTok, signalling a resolution to her ongoing dispute with music distributor Universal Music Group over royalty issues.
The reintegration of Swift’s songs into the popular social platform coincides with the imminent release of her latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” scheduled for next week. CNN confirmed on Thursday the availability of Swift’s music in TikTok’s catalogue, allowing users to incorporate her songs into their videos.
In January, Universal Music Group removed music from its artists, including Swift, Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello, and Rihanna, citing an expiring licensing agreement with TikTok. This move led to the removal of Universal artists’ music from TikTok videos, citing copyright violations.
Universal Music Group accused TikTok of proposing inadequate payment to its artists and songwriters, alleging that the platform offered only a fraction of what other major social platforms pay. Despite TikTok contributing only about 1% to Universal’s total revenue, the company criticized the platform for allowing AI-generated recordings, potentially diluting the royalty pool for human artists.
The terms of Swift’s return to TikTok remain undisclosed. Representatives from Universal Music Group, TikTok, and Taylor Swift did not respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, music from other Universal artists still remains absent from the platform.
Swift unveiled her latest album plans during her acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards in February, teasing fans with album covers, song titles, and a countdown to its release on Friday, April 19. “The Tortured Poets Department” marks her 11th studio album, eagerly anticipated by her global fanbase.
