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After Dispute on TikTok Taylor Swift Music Back in Pace

Taylor Swift


Taylor Swift's songs have returned to TikTok following a dispute that caused her label to discontinue licensing content to the app.

Her music will return on Thursday, ahead of the publication of her new album, The Tortured Poets Department.

Universal Music removed tracks by its artists in January, including Rihanna and Ariana Grande, alleging a licensing disagreement.

Many musicians have complained about TikTok's poor royalties.
Many of her songs, like You Belong With Me and Cruel Summer, are now available for viewers to add to their videos, but music from Universal's other artists has yet to be relisted.

This might be because, unlike other artists, Swift owns the rights to her songs under the terms of a 2018 arrangement with Universal. Some sources said Swift had a separate agreement with TikTok.

"Swifties" - Taylor Swift admirers - went to the platform to express their joy at her music's reappearance.
"OMG this made my whole year," tweeted verified user Jessica Golich, adding that users will "have the whole new album to play with".

Divendra Rai posted a video of herself lip-syncing to Cruel Summer with the message, "Welcome back Taylor!!!"

Universal alleged in an open letter released on January 30 that "ultimately TikTok is trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music".

Universal also expressed worry about providing proper pay to artists for AI-generated songs that sound like the genuine thing, such as one produced to sound like Drake and The Weeknd that went viral.

Swift revealed her new album when receiving her 13th Grammy earlier this year.

The Tortured Poets Department, which will be published on April 19, is her eleventh album.

The Daily BBC has asked Universal and TikTok for comment.