Universal Music Group (UMG) and TikTok recently announced The renewal of their licensing agreement, which includes a commitment to get rid of unauthorized AI-generated music from the platform in order to improve the way artists and songwriters are credited.

In its joint announcement, UMG said the agreement “extends TikTok and UMG’s important commitment to AI safeguards that promote human artistry and ensure that the platform’s economics effectively flow to artists and songwriters. TikTok and UMG will work together to remove unauthorized AI-generated music from the platform, while further empowering artists and songwriters.”

This new agreement represents a significant change in the relationship between UMG and TikTok.

For years, UMG has pushed platforms, streaming services, and AI companies to implement stricter content moderation policies. Tensions between UMG and TikTok escalated in 2024 when UMG accused TikTok of inadequately addressing AI-generated music and copyright issues. This public controversy led UMG to temporarily pull its music catalog from TikTok — a decision that underscored the app’s growing reliance on major label licenses as popular tracks disappeared from user videos overnight.

The timing of TikTok’s commitment to cracking down on fake or unlicensed music is significant, especially as the music industry grapples with the influx of AI-generated content. Over the past few years, the industry has been increasingly concerned about AI tools that can mimic artists’ voices or create fake songs that exploit streaming algorithms. Viral AI-generated tracks imitating big names like Drake and The Weeknd sparked widespread concern, especially when some racked up millions of streams before being removed.

The agreement could also serve as a template for how the broader tech industry navigates the collision of AI, intellectual property, and platform accountability. As the European Union Strengthens its regulatory grip. on AI-generated content (and increasingly in the US Follow suitPressure is mounting on other platforms to formalize similar governance frameworks.

TikTok is working to show the music industry that it can provide significant revenue for artists and rights holders. Last year, the platform launched “TikTok for Artists,” an insights platform designed to help artists strengthen their promotional efforts and provide music labels with access to data.