Trevor Noah is hitting the right notes in hosting the 2024 Grammy Awards.
During his opening monologue, the Emmy-winning host took a swipe at TikTok for not renewing their contract with Universal Music Group, thus the pullout of thousands of songs under Universal Music Group in the platform.
TikTok Pullout: Universal Music Group Cease Music Licensing
Last week, Universal Music Group pulled out hundreds and thousands of songs on TikTok after it failed to strike a fair deal with TikTok with regard to music licensing.
UMG published an open letter titled, "An Open Letter to the Artist And Songwriter Community - Why We Must Call Time Out On TikTok," pressing out three significant points as to why they are sticking to the nuclear option of pulling out their entire catalog from TikTok.
"In our contract renewal discussions, we have been pressing them on three critical issues," they said in a statement, which includes protection from AI-generated recordings, online safety issues for users, and higher compensation for its artists and songwriters.
The glaring problem that the company has pointed out is that in the new contract, TikTok doesn't want to increase their rate of paying the artists for the songs licensed despite "its massive and growing user base, rapidly rising advertising revenue and increasing reliance on music-based content."
"Ultimately TikTok is trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music," they said.
Starting Feb. 1, 2024, songs from Drake, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, BTS, Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, and Adele will be removed from the platform.
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Trevor Noah Slams TikTok After UMG Pullout
In his opening monologue, Noah didn't mince his words in addressing the recent music business development. (via Billboard)
"Shame on you, TikTok, for ripping off artists. That's Spotify's job!" he joked, sending the room in stitches.
TikTok has since responded to the UMG's open letter, blasting the company in their statement.
"It is sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters," TikTok said in a statement. "Despite Universal's false narrative and rhetoric, the fact is they have chosen to walk away from the powerful support of a platform with well over a billion users that serves as a free promotional and discovery vehicle for their talent."
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