Universal Severed Ties with Triller

Universal Takes a Leave of Absence from Triller

Yo, music lovers! The biggest name in the industry—Universal—has pulled all of its tracks from Triller, the TikTok rival that once promised to take the world by storm. Here’s what you need to know, straightened up and easy to digest.

Triller: The Adventurer & Its Numbers

• Based in LA, this app loves short‑form videos.
• Last fall, the creators bragged about 65 million monthly users and 250 million downloads.
• Despite the hype, plenty of artists say they never got paid.

Universal’s Frustration

Universal claims the app didn’t honor its payments to big names like Ariana Grande, Jay‑Z, Post Malone and others. They’re not willing to play the “no‑pay, no‑play” game any longer.

They’ve decided to yank every track from Triller’s library—no wonder some playlists are suddenly a bit “empty.”

What About TikTok?

Unlike Triller, TikTok keeps everything sunny. You can drop any of those chart‑toppers into your vids—dance, lip‑sync, or “just profiting from the vibe” moments.

Triller’s Response

Triller counters that the deal with Universal expired weeks ago and that they’re renegotiating. They point out that many of the artists actually own a slice of the company, so they can license their own music without the label pulling the plug.

They also claim Universal’s claims are like “trying to haggle for crazy fees.”

The Big Picture

• Triller’s sudden popularity spike came from TikTok bans and a ruckus over national security concerns.
• Big TikTok creators hopped onto Triller, boosting its downloads temporarily.
• Now, the app is booting up music licensing like a fresh start.

Industry Trends

There’s a growing pattern: tech apps doing public apologies instead of actually securing proper licenses. That’s a mess for artists—and the whole music ecosystem.

So, who’s right? Universal wants to protect artists’ income. Triller wants to keep its platform alive and might already have alternate licensing paths. It’s a tricky dance.

In the meantime, people still flock to TikTok—maybe because it won’t pay for a “planned security” crisis. Keep your fingers crossed for which side scores the win!