Publishing Briefs: BMG Bolsters Ties With TikTok — Plus, UMPG Heeds Warning

Publishing Briefs: BMG Bolsters Ties With TikTok - Plus, UMPG Heeds Warning This week's publishing roundup features a dollop of deals. BMG has renewed and expanded its direct music publishing agreement with TikTok , signaling a deeper collaboration aimed at modernizing digital rights and creating greater value for songwriters. The updated deal enhances reporting and attribution standards across platforms and introduces advanced tools for rights management and promotion. These improvements will give BMG increased visibility into music usage and strengthen its infrastructure for rights holders in today’s fast-evolving, social-first environment. “BMG truly understands the power of TikTok and the opportunity it creates for songwriters today,” said Tracy Gardner , TikTok’s global head of music business development. “They understand the platform, they embrace innovation, and they work with us hand-in-hand to strengthen rights management and unlock meaningful value. This expanded partnership reflects the trust and momentum we’ve built together - and we’re excited to continue driving growth for the songwriters at the heart of music discovery on TikTok.” Celine Joshua , evp of global marketing and streaming, said, “This agreement underscores our focus on building scalable, forward-looking partnerships that elevate the role of songwriting in today’s music economy. We continue to invest in systems and structures that protect rights, ensure attribution, and add value for creators across the digital landscape.” The partnership with BMG comes as TikTok continues to shape music discovery and engagement. In a recent Billboard interview, Gardner emphasized that the platform’s relationship with the music industry remains strong despite layoffs and licensing challenges in 2025. Gardner, who joined TikTok in 2019 after six years at Warner Music, highlighted features like songwriter tagging and e-commerce integrations, including successful livestreams and fan events. Gardner noted that while TikTok requires users to tag AI-generated music, industry-wide solutions remain unclear, calling it “uncharted territory” and emphasizing the platform’s commitment to balancing innovation with rights protection. Check out the rest of this week’s publishing news below: The Warning (Universal Music Publishing Group) Image Credit: Cortesía The 3 Collective Universal Music Publishing Group has inked a global deal with The Warning , the Monterrey rock trio made up of sisters Daniela (Dany), Paulina (Pau) and Alejandra (Ale) Villarreal. “The Warning represents the strength, creativity, and global impact of a new generation of rock,” said Ana Rosa Santiago, svp of a&r Latin music for UMPG, in a press release. The band first captured global attention with their now 26-million stream Metallica cover of “Enter Sandman,” when they were just kids in 2014. Ever since, they’ve released acclaimed albums like their debut XXI Century Blood (2017), ERROR (2022), and their latest bilingual LP Keep Me Fed (2024), which earned them a Latin Grammy nods for best rock song. Throughout their career, they’ve shared the stage with rock giants like Guns N’ Roses and Foo Fighters. -Isabela Raygoza Eight9FLY (Prescription Songs) Image Credit: Prescription Songs Prescription Songs has signed Eight9FLY , a UK-based songwriter, co-producer and artist of Nigerian heritage known for his acumen in Afrobeats, R&B,...

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