African artists signed to Universal Music Group or its affiliates can rejoice as their music will soon be back on TikTok. The popular social media platform removed all music licensed to Universal Music Group on February 1 due to a dispute over royalties. Universal Music Group accused TikTok of unfair payment practices and criticized the platform for allowing AI-generated recordings and promoting AI music creation tools.
After weeks of negotiation, the two companies have settled their differences, with TikTok agreeing to key changes, including improved compensation for artists starting in May. Sir Lucian Grainge, Universal’s CEO, announced that under the new agreement, artists and songwriters will receive greater compensation than they did under the previous deal.
Although the music ban raised concerns about the impact on African artists like Stonebwoy, Yemi Alade, Mr Eazi, Sauti Sol, and others, the resolution means their music will soon be back on TikTok. This includes the return of songs affected by the ban, such as the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations official song, ‘Akwaba.’
The process of restoring the music to TikTok, including reactivating the audio for previously muted videos, will take about two weeks. Universal Music Group is one of the largest music labels globally, and the return of their artists to TikTok is seen as a significant move to showcase African talent and boost the continent’s music industry.
This agreement will also benefit artists like Stonebwoy, Yemi Alade, and others who were affected by the ban. Fans can look forward to enjoying their favorite African music on TikTok once the restoration process is complete.
