Internet convinced TikTok is 'about to collapse' after UMG pulls music by stars including Taylor Swift

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Universal Music Group has recently made significant waves in the music industry by withdrawing all the music of their artists from the popular platform TikTok. This move has sparked concern among social media users, raising questions about the future of the platform.

Prominent artists affected by UMG's decision include major names like Taylor Swift, Drake, Harry Styles, and Nicki Minaj, along with many other artists. This sudden removal of their music has created uproar within the TikTok community.

Also Read: Taylor Swift issues fierce response after being subpoenaed in Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni legal case

As a leading artist under Universal Music Group (UMG), Taylor Swift's music has consistently been a go-to choice for content creators on the platform. The sudden removal of Swift's music from TikTok has significantly disrupted the creative process for these influencers.

Amid all this mess, recently, Swift has been making waves due to her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce, which has been a topic of widespread discussion, with Kelce describing it as a "beautiful thing."

UMG pulls music from TikTok

Also Read: Real reason why Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce skipped Met Gala 2025 despite receiving official invites

Following contentious licensing negotiations, Universal Music Group (UMG) decided to withdraw its artists' music from the popular social media platform TikTok, as reported by the New York Times.

The breakdown in negotiations led UMG to publish a strongly-worded open letter, accusing TikTok of allowing AI-generated music from its artists. UMG expressed, "TikTok is allowing the platform to be flooded with AI-generated recordings—as well as developing tools to enable, promote and encourage AI music creation on the platform itself – and then demanding a contractual right which would allow this content to massively dilute the royalty pool for human artists, in a move that is nothing short of sponsoring artist replacement by AI."

Also Read: Ryan Reynolds dodges questions about why Travis Kelce unfollowed him amid Taylor Swift-Blake Lively rift

The letter highlighted TikTok's attempt to build a music-based business "without paying fair value for the music."

TikTok confirmed that it had removed music from Universal, resulting in noticeable effects on the platform, NYT reports. Recordings by Universal artists such as Taylor Swift and Harry Styles were deleted, and existing videos using Universal's music had their audio muted. Users were also unable to add Universal songs to new videos.

The New York Times noted that Universal's withdrawal was seen in the music industry as a significant move.

Representatives from both Universal and TikTok declined to provide new statements about the ongoing negotiations or the withdrawal of music from the platform.

Internet users assert TikTok is 'about to collapse'

A user hit at Nicki Minaj who is also under UMG and wrote, "nicki’s career is over — omg.. Pink Friday 2 was carried by tiktok.. the streams abt to be more in the gutter then they already are"

Another user wrote, "Music industry is healing finally"

A user commented, "Oh tik tok influencers will have to get back their 9-5 jobs now"

Another user wrote, "Maybe TikTok is about to collapse"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

More from MEAWW

Brittany Mahomes allegedly told girl gang explosive reason for rift between Blake Lively and Taylor Swift

Blake Lively might be feuding with pal Gigi Hadid amid rumors of rift with Taylor Swift