TikTok’s missing music is making Creators upset 😤

Hey there! 👋

February is here! New month = new opportunities! 😎

Plus, it's a leap year too!

In some ancient Roman cultures, when it was a leap year, they had two February 24ths instead of February 29th like we do today. How confusing that must have been! 🤔

Well, how have you been? Hit reply and tell us how you're spending your days — we'd love to know.

And on that note, let's go through the round-up of all that's brewing in the creator economy. ☕

In today's Going Solo 👇

• Advice of the week: Tim Urban on Procrastinating non-deadline situations

• Discover a new creator: Hannah Teslin

• News that caught our eye: TikTok removes music from UMG artists, including Taylor Swift, BTS

Tim Urban on Procrastinating non-deadline situations

Do you find yourself consistently procrastinating and leaving things until the last minute? Be it small things like uploading a picture or writing an article or something huge like starting a business of your own? 👀

Writer and Illustrator Tim Urban shared his experience with this habit on his blog years ago, and the response he received was incredible.

He emphasizes that we need to reflect on what we're truly procrastinating on because everyone is procrastinating on something in life. We need to stay aware of instant gratification.

Watch the full TEDTalk here.

Navigate the Expat Life with Hannah

Hannah Teslin, is a Canadian creator who's not just living but thriving in Hamburg, Germany. 🇩🇪

From crafting stories to curating events, she's the force behind Business Babes Abroad, a thriving community for international professional women.

She often posts reels about her expat lifestyle, travel diaries, and other adventures. 👇🏻

hannahteslin

View more on Instagram

We are going LIVE with her on Instagram today at 3 P.M. CET.

⏰ Save a reminder to join the conversation here. Hannah will spill the beans on her journey, her community, and the unique stories she weaves about life in Germany.

Are your TikToks suddenly missing music tracks?

#SwiftTok might never be the same! 🥺

On Thursday morning, there was a hiccup in negotiations between TikTok and Universal Music Group regarding the licensing of music from UMG artists on the platform. As a result, sounds from UGM artists like Taylor Swift and Drake went quiet.

Why did UMG pull music?

UMG decided to withdraw its music from TikTok because both parties couldn't agree on important matters related to payment, AI, and safety.

UMG insists on fair compensation for their artist's work and alleges that TikTok tried to pressure them into accepting a deal worth much less than the previous arrangement and far below market value. 🚩

Also read: Open Letter to the Artist and Songwriter Community why we must call time out on TikTok 👇🏻

Whose music is vanishing?

Most of pop music? (Not even exaggerating 🤐)

Well, UMG, being one of the largest music groups, represents a star-studded lineup in pop music.

The list includes big names like Taylor Swift, BTS, Drake, Ariana Grande, Bad Bunny, SZA, Billie Eilish, Adele, Olivia Rodrigo, the Weeknd, Rihanna and more.

Noah Kahan, currently leading on the UK singles chart with Stick Season, expressed: “I won’t be able to promote my music on TikTok any more … I’ll probably be OK, right? I’ll probably land on my feet, right? Right?”

TikTok's influence in music 📈

Its a two-way street.

Music is a crucial part of the platform, shaping the user experience. Imagine watching the Harlem shake dance without any music 👀😆

Moreover, Gen Z and millennials see the platform as a great way to discover new music and build new playlists.

Songs can gain popularity organically on the platform, even if the record has been collecting dust on shelves for decades. Additionally, marketers collaborate with influencers to boost a song's visibility, leading to a rise in user-generated content from their followers.

If TikTok and UMG fail to strike a new deal promptly, it could significantly change how artists share sneak peeks of their music and engage with fans on social media.

What this means for Tiktok users?

This could change the very essence of the platform.

Expect a bunch of videos to go silent.

And on a positive note, it’d open up more room for creativity.

We feel smaller or indie artists might get their shot at going viral. And creators, will likely find their way by using remixed versions. ✨

That’s it for this week! We’ll be back with more stories next Friday. 👋🏼 

Check out our new stuff on YouTube and Instagram. 

Was this newsletter sent to you by someone? Subscribe here & never miss an update.

Thousand Faces Club is an initiative by Phyllo. Phyllo is the universal API for creator data. Sign up for free!