BMG renews TikTok publishing deal, strengthens songwriter credits

Under the updated agreement, BMG will receive expanded reporting and attribution standards, alongside additional access to platform-level data to monitor how its publishing catalogue is used across TikTok. The changes are intended to provide greater visibility into music usage and to strengthen digital rights management for songwriters and publishers.

In a joint statement issued on 24 December, the companies said the renewed deal would “raise reporting and attribution standards across digital platforms” and introduce improvements to how publishing rights are managed and promoted. The statement added that the agreement would give BMG “deeper visibility into music usage” through enhanced platform tools.

TikTok global head of music business development, Tracy Gardner said BMG understood “the power of TikTok and the opportunity it creates for songwriters today”, adding that the partnership reflected “the trust and momentum we’ve built together”.

BMG executive vice-president for global marketing and streaming, Celine Joshua said the agreement reflected the company’s focus on developing partnerships that prioritise songwriting. “We continue to invest in systems and structures that protect rights, ensure attribution, and add value for creators across the digital landscape,” she said.

The renewed agreement comes amid continued scrutiny of how music rights are licensed and managed on social media platforms. TikTok maintains licensing arrangements with major music companies, including Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. In the United States, however, the National Music Publishers’ Association allowed its licensing agreement with TikTok to expire in April 2024, requiring member publishers to negotiate directly with the platform if they wished to continue licensing their works.

BMG represents more than three million songs and recordings, including catalogues from artists such as The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, George Harrison and Blondie. The company has continued to expand its portfolio through acquisitions, including the purchase of Jason Aldean’s recorded catalogue in a deal valued at about $250 million and, more recently, the recordings catalogue of German rock band Liquido.

The renewed partnership reflects the growing influence of user-generated content in music discovery. TikTok said last week that its Add to Music App feature had been used to save more than three billion tracks to streaming services.