In the long-running contract battle between TikTok and Universal Music Group, Taylor Swift has been granted a high-profile exemption. Several of her songs resurfaced in TikTok audio form on Thursday, just a week before the release of Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department . It is still unclear what arrangements have been made for its official music to return or how long it will remain on the social media platform.
Swift fan and TikTok creator Madeline Macrae heard the news Thursday morning and immediately started searching TikTok and Google to confirm it wasn’t a hoax. “I’m excited to have this catalog back and I don’t need to rely on sped-up versions or edited versions,” she said. “I can only use his real music.” Songs like “Cruel Summer,” “Cardigan” and “Style (Taylor’s Version)” can now be used by content creators on the platform, as first reported by Variety.
In addition to being excited about using Swift’s songs in new videos, Macrae is also grateful that the pop superstar’s music is potentially being revived for her previous videos on TikTok. “I debated several times whether to delete them or keep them because they seemed stupidly silent,” she says. When UMG’s music was initially removed from TikTok’s library in January, many creators were stunned to see their archives of past videos featuring certain songs go silent overnight.
Does this mean The Tortured Poets Department album will be available for use in TikTok videos? Not sure yet, but Macrae is hopeful: “I think this decision also shows the strength of Taylor Swift.” Billie Eilish, another major UMG artist, will soon be promoting her upcoming album, May’s Hit Me Hard and Soft, but Eilish fans will have to wait and see whether or not her music returns to TikTok before it launches.
Most UMG artists have been absent from TikTok for nearly 10 weeks, radically changing the user experience on the social media platform and opening the door for non-UMG artists, like Beyoncé, to stream through the algorithm from TikTok.
It remains a mystery when the long-running contract dispute between TikTok and UMG will be resolved. As one of the largest record labels in the world, UMG’s removal of songs from TikTok has affected the careers of many established artists as well as rising stars. Many artists have expressed disappointment with the decision, often citing disrupted marketing plans or reduced audiences. A UMG spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Regardless of what ultimately happens between the two companies, Swifties on TikTok are grateful for her return to music as they prepare for listening parties to celebrate the new album. “I already know my Friday night plans,” Macrae said. “Stay with your friends, drink some wine, and listen to this album.” This looks like a real night out on social media.