TikTok reportedly removed music from stars such as Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and The Weeknd after record label Universal Music Group (UMG) failed to renew its licensing deal.
In a BBC report, UMG claimed that TikTok was "bullying" for wanting to pay a "fraction" of the rate that other social media platforms were paying to access artists' music.
BBC said TikTok defended that UMG was presenting a "false narrative and rhetoric."
UMG released a letter calling out TikTok for appropriate compensation and protection for the damaging effects of the booming AI industry.
"We have been pressing them on three critical issues—appropriate compensation for our artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok’s users," its statement read.
The record label said the video-sharing platform failed to compensate artists and songwriters, with its TikTok account reaching only 1 percent of its total revenue.
"Ultimately TikTok is trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music," UMG said.
