NSAI BOARD RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP’S STANCE AGAINST TIKTOK
February 5, 2024 (Nashville, Tenn.) -- Be it resolved that the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) supports Universal Music Group (UMG) for taking a stand to no longer license copyrights under their administrative control to the digital music platform TikTok until they agree to pay higher fair market rates to the creators of the music from which they generously profit.
While TikTok’s revenue and user base has greatly expanded since UMG’s last licensing deal with them, the platform refuses to follow with commensurate gains in payments for the music Universal Music Group’s licenses which should also reflect a greater value because UMG’s market share has increased by a reported 15% since the last mutual licensing agreement.
Further, TikTok has invested in generative artificial intelligence (AI) companies and appears to want to flood their platform with the music their AI creates, thereby diluting payments to human songwriters and artists. They simultaneously balk at executing AI protections that other companies have agreed to.
And there is concern that stronger security protocols should be in place on the TikTok platform.
Today the NSAI Board of Directors, by a unanimous vote of all 19 directors present, calls for TikTok to negotiate fair rates and address AI issues that impact human creative compensation and strengthen security measures, especially for underage users.