TikTok has started to remove more licensed Universal Music songs from its platform as the contract dispute between the two industry giants over royalties continues.
The social media company said on Tuesday that it has muted videos that are still using the remaining licensed songs from Universal Music Publishing Group in the platform.
Licensed songs under the UMG-owned labels like Interscope, Republic, and Def Jan were initially removed after Universal's contract with TikTok expired last Jan. 31.
This includes songs from Taylor Swift, Elton John, Adele, and many more artists directly signed with UMG.
The second wave of content removal now also purged music from Harry Styles, SZA, and The Weeknd, the Rolling Stones confirmed.
Analysts expect that more than 80% of the "popular songs" on the platform will be gone once TikTok finished with its purge.
TikTok, Universal Hurl Out Accusations Following Negotiation Breakdown
No reports of renegotiations have been made regarding a new licensing contract between the two after both sides demanded compensation from each other.
UMG earlier accused TikTok of "trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music."
The record label also cited concerns about the video-sharing platform leaning more into AI, a trend UMG claimed would hurt its artists.
TikTok responded by pointing to UMG for putting "their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters."
The social media giant said it cares for the artists on its platform, far from the "false narrative" UMG has stated.
TikTok Communities Impacted Over UMG-TikTok Fallout
While the two corporate giants have yet to come to a solution to their licensing dispute, more and more TikTok communities and trends are being affected by the ramp-up of song removals.
Fan edits, in particular, have dramatically reduced over the past month as usual songs used for the videos are currently unavailable.
Dance trends are also having a hard time gaining traction due to fewer new songs coming into the platform.
On the brighter side, more independent singers and artists are having their spotlight on trending songs as people use them more now.
Cover songs not included in the license are also gaining traction as substitutes for original tracks.
In some cases, some users even make light of the situation by using inappropriate royalty-free tracks as music backgrounds for fan edits, dance trends, and memes.
@jerseyyjoe When UMG removed all of their sounds off of TikTok ( IB: @Haven Lough ) #jerseyyjoe #jersey #trend #viral #fyp ♬ Fluffing a Duck - Kevin MacLeod
