DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Taylor Swift abandoned UMG's fight, making the record label's argument against TikTok look weaker: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Swift recently brought her music back to the platform after UMG pulled it in January due to an ongoing fight between the music publisher UMG and TikTok. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Swift was initially on board with UMG's move. "Universal can't claim they're winning a fight Taylor doesn't want a part of," Bill Werde, the director of Syracuse University's music business program, told the Journal. UMG, TikTok, and a representative for Swift didn't respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Persons: —, Taylor, Universal Music Group's, Swift, UMG, TikTok, Drake, Olivia Rodrigo, Beyoncé, UMG's, Swift's, they're, Taylor doesn't, Bill Werde Organizations: Service, Universal Music, Wall Street Journal, Business, Wall Street, Poet's Department, Syracuse, Business Insider

☆ Taylor Swift's return to TikTok shows even the world's biggest stars still need the app
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Taylor Swift is back on TikTok despite a feud between the app and her label Universal Music Group. Swift's reemergence shows that even the world's biggest stars need TikTok to promote their work. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . UMG artists can still post videos on TikTok, but they can't use their own tracks, making it harder to push a new album. Related storiesSwift's return to TikTok shows that even the industry's biggest stars still need to use the app to help a new album take off.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Swift's, —, Drake, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor, she's, Swift, TikTok, Chauncey Hollis Jr Organizations: Universal Music Group, Service, Universal, Poets Department, Business, Spotify, AMC, Bloomberg Locations: TikTok, Hollywood, Singapore, Australia

☆ Taylor Swift's 'poor quality' merch and shipping delays has some fans calling for a boycott
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewTaylor Swift fans are a dedicated group, but complaints about the pop star's merch have some calling for a boycott in recent months. However, some fans on social media are calling out what they described as the poor quality of her merch and delayed shipping times. Instead of blaming Swift for the merch, many fans are looking at her record label Universal Music Group for the delays and poor quality. Another Redditor posted expectation vs. reality photos of a $40 "1989" tote bag ordered online. Others online called out the "poor quality" of the tote bag and said that it's nothing new for Swift's merch site.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, Swifties, Pollstar, Swift, Redditor, subreddit, hadn't, Swift's, I'm, taylors, TeJDBDyfBj — Riley 🤍🖤 Organizations: Service, Business, Universal Music Group, tote

☆ TikTok's feud with Universal has music marketers shifting campaigns to Instagram reels while some see an opportunity to plug other artists
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Dan Whateley | Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But for music marketers tasked with helping artists and new releases go viral on social media, the show must go on. Others are encouraging creators and performers to use unofficial, user-uploaded versions of UMG artists' songs in TikTok videos. Other marketers have similarly shifted promotional efforts from TikTok to reels for UMG songs. Still, even without UMG artists' songs, TikTok remains a critical part of the song-marketing playbook, music marketers told BI. Some marketers are asking creators to swap in these unofficial tracks into muted videos to promote the UMG artists, several of the music marketers said.

Persons: TikTok, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, they've, Simon Friend, Timothy Collins, Benjamin Ingrosso's, Benjamin, Collins, Friend Organizations: Universal Music, Business, Round, BI, Creed Media, Universal Music Group, TikTok

☆ Indie musicians are celebrating UMG's decision to pull its music off TikTok: 'It's our time to shine baby'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In the days since Universal Music Group pulled its music off TikTok, countless videos on the platform have suddenly been muted. And many independent artists are realizing this might be their moment to shine. AdvertisementNow, many indie music artists are jumping on the opportunity to maximize their exposure. As Emily Zeck, an indie country musician with 2.5 million TikTok followers, wrote on a recent video caption, "It's our time to shine baby." The song has over 20 million streams on Spotify and has been reused in 1.1 million TikTok videos.

Persons: Taylor Swift, UMG, Emily Zeck, TikTok, Shane Niemi, Niemi, Ktlyn, Rebecca Rea, Rea, Lilith Max, Houston who's, ", Max Organizations: Universal Music Group, TikTok, Spotify, UMG Locations: San Diego, Dallas Fort Worth, TikTok

☆ Forget Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny — TikTokers are now dancing to royalty-free music
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

If you open TikTok today, you might well be greeted with creators dancing to royalty-free music instead of your favorite tunes from artists like Taylor Swift or Bad Bunny. The move has resulted in a whole archive of "muted" TikTok videos, and even the UMG artists themselves aren't safe. Some TikTok creators are already responding to UMG's move by filming themselves dancing to songs in the public domain. I'm glad they are far in the past because I look awkward mouthing and dancing to no music," Romano said. "I would say 75% of my videos would contain UMG music," Romano said.

Persons: Taylor Swift, That's, Justin Bieber, Bieber, Kevin MacLeod, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell, Sophia Romano, Romano, UMG, Brian Gabriel, Gabriel, Nikalas Anderson, Anderson, Für Elise, Wendy Ly, Swift's Organizations: Universal Music Group, UMG, Globes, BI Locations: NYC, Los Angeles, Japan

As of early Thursday, a vast roster of popular songs were disappearing from the social media platform's library. The complete removal of UMG-licensed music will likely take a few days — but chances are, avid TikTokers are already seeing the effects. Artists will also not be able to post the audio of their UMG-licensed songs on TikTok. “It is sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters,” TikTok said. Mall stressed the overall consequences of pulling music from social media platforms like TikTok — particularly for younger developing artists.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, Bunny, Drake —, TikTok, UMG, ”, Andrew Mall, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, ” UMG, ” TikTok, we're, “, UMG's Virgin EMI Records Ted Cockle, Cockle, Alexandra J, Roberts, SZA, Drake, Billie Eilish —, Jessica Henig, it's, Henig, Michelle Chapman Organizations: Universal, Group, Associated Press, “ Universal, Northeastern University, UMG, Universal Music, UMG's Virgin EMI Records, Music Management, ”, Associated, Virgin EMI, AP Locations: UMG, New York

☆ Taylor Swift songs removed from TikTok after her label UMG's spat with the app
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Taylor Swift performs onstage at Lumen Field in Seattle on July 22, 2023. Music by artists including Taylor Swift and Drake was no longer available on TikTok when CNBC checked on Thursday morning. A licensing agreement between UMG and TikTok, which is owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, expired on Wednesday. UMG alleged TikTok proposed paying its artists and songwriters "at a rate that is a fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay." The music label also alleged TikTok is allowing its platform to be "flooded with AI-generated recordings."

Persons: Taylor Swift, Lumen, Drake, UMG, TikTok Organizations: Universal Music Group, CNBC Locations: Seattle, UMG

☆ Inside TikTok's fight against the most powerful music label in the industry and what could happen next
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Music licensing talks are heating up between TikTok and Universal Music Group as negotiations have left the conference room and entered the public sphere. "Their core mission is to generate as much money as they can from their recordings for their shareholders," David Herlihy, a copyright lawyer and music industry professor at Northeastern University, told BI. The company is in the process of launching a dedicated streaming app, TikTok Music, and has worked closely with artists on influencer listening parties, livestreams, and in-person events. But TikTok, as a global social giant, is an important product for music artists and labels. This is why the music industry is seeking to capture more value."

Persons: Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, TikTok, It's, David Herlihy, David, Goliath, UMG, Tatiana Cirisano, Jonny Kaps, MIDiA's Cirisano Organizations: TikTok, Universal Music Group, Business, Hollywood, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Northeastern University, Music, MIDiA Research, YouTube, Universal, SiriusXM Locations: India, Australia

☆ TikTok is about to find out if it can survive without Taylor Swift and Ice Spice
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Hannah Getahun | Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Universal Music Group said it could not reach a deal with TikTok to license its music. The label says TikTok pays a "fraction of the rate" that other platforms do for licensing. The current contract between UMG and TikTok expires Wednesday, per the letter. 2", Ice Spice's "In Ha Mood," and Taylor Swift's "Cruel Summer" are a part of the label's catalog. "TikTok has been able to reach 'artist-first' agreements with every other label and publisher," TikTok told Business Insider.

Persons: UMG, TikTok, —, Taylor Swift, Drake, Olivia Rodrigo, Beyonce, Doja, Taylor, Shou Zi, Chew Organizations: Universal Music Group, Service, UMG, Business Locations: UMG, TikTok, China

☆ Universal Music reiterates AI concerns as quarterly profit slumps
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 26 (Reuters) - Universal Music Group (UMG.AS), the label representing Drake and Taylor Swift, on Wednesday posted a slump in first-quarter core profit due to compensation expenses, and reiterated concerns over AI-made music. Core profit, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), slumped 43.4% in constant currency to 261 million euros ($288.04 million), due to non-cash, share-based compensation expenses, part of an equity compensation plan announced last year. Excluding these expenses, adjusted EBITDA was 522 million euros, up 13.0% on the same basis, and beating a consensus cited by Credit Suisse which had expected 513 million euros. UMG's CEO, Lucian Grainge, has come under shareholder pressure over an "excessive" $100 million pay deal, The Financial Times reported on Wednesday. Labels now face challenges like slowing global revenue growth in recorded music, particularly in established markets like the U.S, while the emergence of AI-generated music adds to their concerns, as many laws do not currently deem the replication of artists' voices as strictly illegal.

☆ Universal Music profit slumps due to compensation expenses
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 26 (Reuters) - Universal Music Group (UMG.AS), the label representing Drake and Taylor Swift, on Wednesday posted a significant drop in core profit due to compensation expenses, even as sales edged up in the first quarter. Core profit (EBITDA) for the first quarter fell 43.4% at constant currency to 261 million euros ($288.07 million), with the metric's margin also dropping to 10.6% from 20.6% in the same quarter a year earlier. The drop was due to non-cash, share-based compensation expenses of 261 million euros during the quarter, part of a global equity compensation plan announced in the fourth quarter of last year, UMG said. UMG's CEO Lucian Grainge has come under shareholder pressure over an "excessive" $100 million pay deal, The Financial Times reported on Wednesday. The group nonetheless posted higher first quarter sales, helped by growth in recorded music and music publishing.

☆ How TikTok is changing the music industry
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

TikTok is an essential promotional tool for music artists and record labels. Watch a full replay of Insider's webinar on TikTok's impact on the music industry, featuring execs from TikTok, Universal Music Group, and UnitedMastersFor some, the hyper-focus on TikTok can be draining. "The argument from TikTok's side is TikTok is now so important to the music industry that they can't afford to not have their music on the platform." Read more about the 'complicated' and codependent relationship between TikTok and music rights holdersBut the industry's attention on TikTok isn't unfounded. Read about why TikTok music marketers are turning to general-interest accounts to promote songsCreating TikTok music challenges to spark user-generated videosAnd some marketers are opening the door for social-media users who wouldn't traditionally be considered influencers to get paid to promote music.

☆ Inside the growing business behind TikTok song remixes, which are transforming the way music is discovered on the app
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

TikTok users are increasingly finding new music through song remixes and mashups. In the middle of August, music artist Sam Smith's somber 2014 ballad "I'm Not The Only One" reentered Spotify's top 200 chart nearly a decade after its release. Marketers embrace TikTok remixes and mashupsAs with any social-media trend, music marketers are adjusting their strategies to stay in tune with TikTok's audience. TikTok music talent can earn anywhere from $500 to $5,000 to produce a remixed version of a track, according to Cloherty. Outside of monetary compensation, having a track go viral can help TikTok talent grow their audience off the app.

☆ How TikTok is changing the music industry and the way we discover new, popular songs
▼ + stars: | 2021-06-10 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

In July, it rolled out a dedicated music-streaming service called TikTok Music in five countries. Read about why TikTok music marketers are turning to general-interest accounts to promote songsCreating TikTok music challenges to spark user-generated videosAnd some marketers are opening the door for social-media users who wouldn't traditionally be considered influencers to get paid to promote music. Read more about TikTok's private listening sessionsA dedicated TikTok Music streaming app is bornIn July, TikTok stepped deeper into the music business by launching its own dedicated music-streaming app, TikTok Music, in Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, and Singapore. Insider tested TikTok Music in Singapore, where it launched in a closed beta, to learn more about how it works. Like TikTok, TikTok Music includes a "For You" feed of recommended content and a variety of social features that set it apart from incumbents like Spotify and Apple Music.

Persons: TikTok, Here's, they've, influencers, TikTok influencers, Read, Jonny Kaps, Halsey, Charli XCX, Taylor Upsahl, Upsahl, Steve Jennings, Kristen Bender, Lyor Cohen, Ted Suh, Elissa Ayadi, Sydney Bradley, Getty, Jesse Callahan, It's, Zach Friedman, Dan Asip, Pearpop, Cole Mason, There's, Johnny Cloherty, Andy McGrath, Tarek Al, Hamdouni, Tiagz, John Arano, Tiago Garcia, you'd, Nima Nasseri, Ole Obermann, Rita Franca, NurPhoto, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rudensky, Cyrus, Hailey Bieber, Guillermo Legaria, Khalid, Demi Lovato, Marshmellow, ByteDance, Tatiana Cirisano, Jeffrey Ramsay, Steve Blatter Organizations: Getty, TikTok, MRC Data, Universal Music Group, YouTube, GQ, Snap Inc, Agency, 10K, Records, Sony Music, RCA Records, Warner Music, Getty Images, Movistar Arena, Spotify, Apple, MIDiA Research, MTV, SiriusXM's TikTok Locations: Tempe , Arizona, TikTok, Bogota, Colombia, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, Singapore, India, Denver , Colorado

Search resuls for: "UMG's"

15 mentions found