TikTok gets Billie Eilish, Adele songs back as Universal dispute ends

Songs from the world's largest music company Universal Music are returning to TikTok after a contractual dispute lasting three months was ended.

Universal, whose artists include Ariane Grande, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish and Adele, withdrew its music from the platform when the previous licence deal expired at the end of January.

There is now a new agreement which, according to the company, provides for better remuneration for musicians and protection from the negative consequences of the AI boom. Financial details were not initially disclosed on Thursday.

TikTok allows users to add songs to their videos and enters into licence agreements with the music industry in return.

When Universal declared the negotiations to have failed three months ago, the company criticized TikTok for offering musicians and songwriters only "a fraction" of the usual remuneration on other similar online platforms.

Universal also expressed concern that music created with the help of artificial intelligence could replace the works of artists.

TikTok has emerged in recent years as a medium for discovering new music, making it one of the most important marketing tools of the industry.

Taylor Swift recently had some of her songs returned to TikTok ahead of the release of her new album "The Tortured Poets Department". Although the musician is also under contract with Universal, she holds the rights to her songs.