Universal Music looks set to take all its songs off TikTok after a breakdown in talks over the social media site’s licensing agreement.

In an open letter, the group accused TikTok of ‘bullying’, adding that they only wanted to pay a ‘fraction’ of the rate offered by other platforms for the catalogue of millions of songs, however, the Chinese-owned social media called this a ‘false narrative’.

While Universal claims the social media platform, with more than one billion users, accounts for just one per cent of their revenue, the move will result in many of TikTok users’ favourite artists and sounds being removed.

Artists signed to the world’s biggest label include Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Drake and many more.

Read a list of some of the biggest names and tunes which will be impacted by the record company’s decision below.

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Taylor Swift, Spotify’s most-streamed artist of 2023, is no longer going to be available to sample on TikTok. Pictured in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on her Eras tour in November

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Universal Music Group announced they were not renewing their licence agreement with the social media platform, after a breakdown in talks over payment

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Beyonce and Drake are also going to have their songs pulled from the social media platform as they are signed to UMG labels

Seven of 2023’s top 10 most-streamed artists worldwide on Spotify are leaving TikTok as a result of Universal Music Group (UMG) pulling songs.

They are headlined by Taylor Swift, with the world’s most-streamed artist of the last year to be no longer be accessible to TikTok users from February 1.

Bad Bunny, The Weeknd and Drake completed the top-four, and they are also all signed to Universal companies – which include Republic and Virgin Music.

Those not signed to the label who made the top 10 were Peso Pluma, Feid and Travis Scott.

However, the remaining SZA, KAROL G and Lana Del Rey are all also set to leave the platform.

The streaming giant’s top songs were also dominated by Universal artists, with Miley Cyrus sitting at number one with Flowers.

Harry Styles’ As It Was will also be pulled.

Other huge artists signed to the company’s labels include some the industry’s biggest names both today and historically.

To name a fraction, they include: The Beatles, Elton John, Ariana Grande, BTS, Billie Eilish, Post Malone and Bob Dylan.

And on top of that, many of TikTok’s most popular songs which do not, perhaps, come from the world’s biggest performers will also be axed, such as Murder On The Dance Floor, by Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

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Many viral songs on the platform will no longer be available to sample as a result of the move, including Murder On The Dance Floor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor (pictured)

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Post Malone (seen performing on New Year’s Eve) signed to UMG’s Republic Records in 2015

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Brits Adele and Elton Joh are also signed to the globe’s biggest record label

Top 30 best-selling artist that will disappear form TikTok
The Beatles
Elton John
Rihanna
Pink Floyd
Eminem
Mariah Carey
Taylor Swift
Beyonce
The Eagles
Celine Dion
The Rolling Stones
Drake
Justin Bieber
U2
Phil Collins
Frank Sinatra
Katy Perry
Jay-Z
Metallica
Lady Gaga
Maroon 5
Adele
Bon Jovi
Rod Stewart
Bee Gees
Nicki Minaj
George Strait
Shania Twain
Guns N’ Roses
Backstreet Boys

Other popular artists whose back-catalogues are only part-owned by Universal Music Group include Michael Jackson (1964-1974), Queen (2011-), Madonna (2010-) and Red Hot Chili Peppers (1983-1990).

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The best-selling artist of all time, The Beatles, will also be leaving TikTok