TikTok, an app used by at least one billion people, is facing a large removal of their catalog of music and sounds. Fan-favorite artists like Taylor Swift, Drake, and Bad Bunny are among those whose music has been removed from the app. The removal of some of the sounds on Tiktok has caused a number of users to complain about restricting the ways that the app is used since the audios for many TikToks are being muted. 

One of the world’s largest record labels, Universal Music Group is the one pulling the strings in this situation. The decision to cut Tiktok’s catalog was the result of not being able to come to an agreement for a contract renewal after the licensing between TikTok and UMG expired on Jan. 31 this year . The causes for the licensing disagreement primarily stemmed from issues with properly compensating artists and the use of artificial intelligence to make music. 

According to PBS, the process of removing music tied to Universal Music Group will not happen all in one day, but it definitely is underway. 

“I go to do a Drake song, [to] make a TikTok to a Drake song [and] it’s gone. I go to make a TikTok to a Taylor Swift song [and it’s] gone,” Mikaylah Harrison said. Harrison is a freshman and Tiktok user.

 The long-term effects of the decision to remove all audio licensed under Universal Music Group have yet to be seen, but the current muting of various audios can give TikTok users an idea of what their platform could look like moving forward.