Generally within the music biz, it’s not precisely what somebody says that issues – it’s when they are saying it.

Over the previous few weeks, MBW has carefully coated the information of Universal Music Group‘s quarrel with TikTok – primarily over the licensing sums paid by the digital service for music – in addition to the response from varied corners of the business.

Since UMG refused to re-license its catalog with TikTok in January, the likes of Downtown, Primary Wave, the NMPA, Hipgnosis, and varied pro-artist teams have come out in assist of Common’s place.

Earlier this month, A2IM – a commerce physique representing a coalition of premium impartial labels, which has previously rallied towards motion by main music firms – additionally stepped ahead to again UMG.

In an op/ed published on MBW, A2IM chief, Dr. Richard James Burgess, argued: “In an business that systemically underpays artists and labels, TikTok’s cost methodology is uniquely disadvantageous.”

Following the publication of that op/ed on February 7, MBW contacted Denis Ladegaillerie, founder and CEO of Believe, for his response to the UMG/TikTok fracas.

Fairly a bit had occurred since we acquired Ladegaillerie’s reply, together with the small matter of Ladegaillerie himself joining with EQT and TCV in a USD $1.6 billion-valued takeover bid for Imagine.

However at present (February 20), we’re lastly publishing his reply, which… kinda tells its personal story.

Stated Ladegaillerie in an emailed assertion (bear in mind, in direct response to the query of UMG vs. TikTok): “Imagine’s mission is to assist artists’ growth in any respect phases of their careers. TikTok is an vital accomplice in our objectives. Their dedication to work with Imagine has accelerated the invention and growth of numerous artists, and collectively we have now constructed long-term companies and helpful monetization for our artists and labels.

“We look ahead to persevering with our partnership with TikTok to steer many extra creators to success.”

“Along with TikTok, we have now constructed long-term companies and helpful monetization for our artists and labels… We look ahead to persevering with our partnership.”

Denis Ladegaillerie, Imagine

MBW understands that Imagine has an energetic licensing take care of TikTok in play that was signed previously 12 months.

That places it on an analogous footing, TikTok-deal-timing-wise, as Warner Music Group, which introduced a brand new settlement with the ByteDance platform in July 2023.

Warner Music Group CEO, Robert Kyncl, told analysts earlier this month that he continues to view WMG’s present settlement with TikTok as “honest”.

Kyncl stated of WMG’s TikTok settlement: “[We] don’t observe different firms. We don’t do carbon copies of different offers. We do our personal… It wasn’t straightforward with TikTok. I believe it was very tough [negotiation]. However we acquired there.”

Common Music Group’s recordings are not accessible so as to add to movies from the music library of TikTok, following the cessation of the 2 firms’ licensing settlement on the finish of January.

It’s understood that Common Music Group’s represented publishing catalog – which stretches to round 4 million songs – will proceed to be legally licensed on TikTok till the top of this month (February) resulting from a 30-day ‘grace interval’.

UMG revealed an open letter on January 30, saying that its present take care of TikTok was coming to an in depth and not using a profitable renewal.

The letter stated that, throughout its contract renewal discussions with TikTok, UMG had been “urgent” the platform on “three essential points” together with “applicable compensation for our artists and songwriters, defending human artists from the dangerous results of AI, and on-line security for TikTok’s customers”.

TikTok snapped back at UMG in a press release later that day, claiming that it was “unhappy and disappointing that Common Music Group has put their very own greed above the pursuits of their artists and songwriters”.

Imagine, which isn’t an A2IM member, is a considerable world participant in recorded music, working exterior of the ‘massive three’ main music firms.

Along with housing labels equivalent to Nuclear Blast, Naïve, Groove Assault, and AllPoints, Imagine is the proprietor of DIY distribution/companies platform, TuneCore, and operates its personal world companies division for what some name ‘center class’ artists.

The Paris-headquartered firm posted FY revenues of EUR €760.8 million (USD $800m) within the 12 calendar months of 2022.

Earlier this month, Imagine reiterated steerage through which it expects FY 2023 natural income development of 14% YoY, or an adjusted natural development of 19% YoY (whereby ‘adjusted’ represents neutralized affect from international change charges).

Imagine is scheduled to announce its This fall/FY 2023 outcomes on March 13.Music Enterprise Worldwide