An Independent Musician’s Perspective on the TikTok Legislation Before Congress

There are various loud voices making a whole lot of noise about TikTok proper now, and as somebody who makes “noise” for a dwelling, I believed I’d present an unbiased musician’s perspective on the TikTok legislation earlier than Congress: I hope it passes, each as an American and as a music maker.

Initially, this invoice restricts TikTok, it doesn’t “ban” the app. It forces the corporate to chop its ties to the Chinese Communist Party and prevents them from accessing the information of People. That’s factor. The invoice doesn’t mandate or regulate speech, it’s targeted on nationwide safety. The menace is not any secret, it’s actual: the Federal Communications Fee (FCC) referred to as TikTok “a transparent and current hazard” to our nation.

It’s amusing to recall the extent to which everybody freaked out about a Chinese spy balloon however apparently a Chinese language spy balloon in each telephone is okay. It isn’t.

Second, music makers already know what music lovers are simply now studying: TikTok is the worst, most exploitative streaming platform for music, anyplace (and that’s saying one thing). The overwhelming majority of music on TikTok generates just about no income for the musicians who made it, and much more music on the platform is totally unlicensed (stolen), copied (stolen through AI), or pirated (stolen). Merely put, TikTok is making an attempt to construct a music-based enterprise with out paying music makers truthful worth for the music. That’s why Common Music Group has already pulled out of TikTok. That’s why the Nationwide Music Publishers’ Affiliation has already announced it gained’t renew its license with the corporate. So, TikTok poses “a transparent and current hazard” to American music, too.

Musicians (and People) are all too aware of being underpaid and undervalued, with our knowledge being scraped and offered, with platforms that promote hate speech, bigotry and bullying. However TikTok does all of this and extra, whereas posing an existential nationwide safety menace to our nation.

“However why aren’t we as apprehensive in regards to the U.S. billionaires who personal the opposite apps stealing our knowledge and making an attempt to control us?” Bluntly, as a result of these U.S. billionaires are topic to U.S. legal guidelines and the Chinese language Communist Celebration in China isn’t. Additionally, we are apprehensive about it, as we needs to be––however as unhealthy as these platforms are and might be, TikTok is completely different.

TikTok isn’t X or Meta––they’re on an much more harmful stage, which is what’s behind the growing international response. Nations throughout the globe, and authorities our bodies like NATO, the European Fee, EU Council, and the European Parliament, are taking motion towards TikTok. America is becoming a member of a world neighborhood with Afghanistan, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Indonesia, India, Latvia, Nepal, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Somalia, Taiwan, and the UK in taking motion towards TikTok.

Once more, this isn’t a “ban” and nobody goes to lose their TikTok. That is governments all over the world saying we’d like the corporate’s possession construction to vary for protection causes.

It’s occurred earlier than by the way in which, proper right here. In 2020, the Chinese language-owned courting app Grindr was sold after the U.S. authorities expressed comparable nationwide safety issues. 4 years later, the app is doing simply positive.

It’s uncommon to see unbiased musicians (like me) stand with main labels and music publishers, and it’s uncommon to see Republicans and Democrats stand collectively in any respect––not to mention overwhelmingly––about something. And it’s rarer nonetheless at a time the place it’s arduous to listen to something above all of the noise. However, no less than for this noise maker, forcing TikTok to separate from an authoritarian authorities bilking musicians (and People) is an concept that’s simple to help, particularly in an uneasy time.

I hope the invoice passes, and I hope the President indicators it.

Picture Supply: Deposit Photographs
Creator: BlueJay18
Picture ID: 253938270