Universal Music Group (UMG) may be pulling its music from TikTok. In an open letter, UMG listed several grievances that may cause the music company to severe its partnership with the rapidly growing platform. It credits some of TikTok’s success and global reach to the music that has been created by UMG artists and songwriters. Despite this, the company highlights the inadequate compensation for its artists and songwriters, with the platform contributing only a minuscule amount to UMG’s total revenue. “With respect to the issue of artist and songwriter compensation, TikTok proposed paying our artists and songwriters at a rate that is a fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay,” UMG said in a letter. “Today, as an indication of how little TikTok compensates artists and songwriters, despite its massive and growing user base, rapidly rising advertising revenue and increasing reliance on music-based content, TikTok accounts for only about 1% of our total...

Universal Music Group (UMG) is doubling down on its stance against artificial intelligence (AI) in music. As AfroTech previously told you, earlier this month, the leading music company reportedly asked streaming services to block AI from having access to copyrighted content.

During Super Bowl LVI, rap legend Dr. Dre was tasked with putting on an awe-inspiring halftime show, and he accepted the challenge. Electrifying So-Fi Stadium, he brought on fellow musicians and artists Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem. via GIPHY For weeks, Dre had fans talking about the performance’s impact and what it meant for Black culture and the rap genre. Fast forward to weeks before Super Bowl LVII, Dr. Dre is not performing again, but he is still making headlines.

If you ever saw the Blassic (Black and classic) movie “Friday,” then you know when Smokey initially attempts to convince Craig to try cannabis, it is done with the 1978 Rick James classic “Mary Jane” in the background. Outside of this film, written and produced by Ice Cube, “Mary Jane” would become a cultural classic. While this one may be top of the list for many, the funk and R&B singer has many other classics that cemented him as one of the greats. Songs like “You & I,” “Fire And Desire,” and “Give It To Me Baby” can be found on many cookout or family reunion playlists. To prove that James’ music stands the test of time, his all-time most popular hit from the 80s, “Super Freak,” is being sampled by New York rapper Nicki Minaj. Minaj released her new single, “Super Freaky Girl,” Friday, Aug. 12. With a range of hits and an undeniable influence on culture, the world was saddened when Rick James passed away in 2004. However, it would not be until several years later that the estate...

When you’re an established producer like Hit-Boy, one might think that with new levels of success comes more commas on the check. However, in the music industry, that seems to be an anomaly. Hit-Boy, born Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr., is the perfect name for the producer responsible for hits that have moved the culture for years. From credits on Jay-Z and Ye’s “Watch the Throne” to producing tracks with Justin Timberlake, albums with Nas, Big Sean, and the list goes on, he has had his fair share of what life in the industry looks like. But, things aren’t always as they appear. “I’m 33 now and have multiple Grammys, produced a lot of your favorite artists’ biggest songs on top of turning in over 450-plus records since I first signed and @upmg still doesn’t have it in them to simply be fair,” said Hit-Boy in a previous post on Instagram dating back to 2020. “If they’re doing this to me with all I’ve accomplished through hard work, I can only imagine the kids who don’t have big...

A music mogul like Quincy Jones backing an “emotional” artificial technology (AI) music startup sounds like a match made in heaven. The startup — Musimap — is on a mission to develop effective music roadmaps for its users through AI. The automated engine leverages automated engines and metadata enhancement to generate a playlist that has a familiar music palette to correspond with the personality profile. When Jones made the decision to tap into Musimap last year, he operated as a special advisor disclosing a personalized listing of his top-performing singles in order for the company to curate a precise profile. The profile was generated in “a fraction of a second” with results matching songs across common themes including love, playfulness, sensibility and happiness. The search engine also revealed Soul Jazz, Pop, Disco and Jazz were the top contenders for the key genre, Music Business World previously reported. Since Musimaps’s acquisition of Jones’ catalog in May, the AI company...

Universal Music Group (UMG) — the global leader in music entertainment — has announced some new additions to its African senior management structure to continue expanding its presence and strengthen its local music ecosystem. According to an announcement , the worldwide music company has appointed music executives Sipho Dlamini, Elouise Kelly, and Chinedu Okeke to senior-level positions within Universal Music South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, and Universal Music Nigeria. “I am thrilled to announce these strategic appointments, as we look to further develop our domestic infrastructure and label rosters within Africa,” said UMG EVP of Market Development, Adam Granite in a press statement. “Most integral to achieving our long-term ambitions, is to build a strong leadership team on the ground, with deep foundations in each country to help grow a dynamic ecosystem for all to benefit in the future.” The announcement shares that Dlamini has been promoted to CEO, Universal Music South...