#TheWeeklyRoundUp - 15.03.24

Selling TikTok would be last resort for ByteDance, sources say as House votes through sell-or-be-banned law (Complete Music Update)

The US House Of Representatives has voted in favour of a law that would force TikTok’s China-based owner ByteDance to sell the social media app or face a ban in the country. However, sources have told Bloomberg that ByteDance sees a sale of TikTok as a last resort option, and that it will continue to fight the proposals in the US Senate and, if necessary, the American courts. 

That fight will centre on whether or not banning TikTok because of national security concerns violates the free speech protections provided by the First Amendment of the US Constitution. If it does, the act passed most recently will be unconstitutional. 

Supporters of the act say it is worded in a way that circumvents First Amendment issues, but it’s not just TikTok that argues otherwise. Plenty of free speech campaigners and legal experts say the TikTok ban should be blocked on First Amendment grounds. 

Ahead of today’s vote in the House, numerous campaign groups sent a letter to Speaker Of The House Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urging them to oppose the act. The groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontier Foundation, said "Passing this legislation would trample on the constitutional right to freedom of speech of millions of people in the United States".

"TikTok is home to massive amounts of protected speech and association”, their letter continued, “it enables its users to discuss their opinions, share their hobbies, make art, and access news from down the street and around the world. Jeopardising access to the platform jeopardises access to free expression". 

The Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act would give ByteDance six months to sell TikTok before any ban of the app went into effect. The proposals still need to be backed by the US Senate and then signed into law by the President, though Joe Biden has already said, "If they pass it, I'll sign it". 

The act is the latest in a number of attempts to disconnect TikTok from ByteDance, based on concerns that the Chinese government has access to US user-data through its China-based owner, something TikTok denies. Only introduced into the House last week, the act was unanimously approved by the House Energy And Commerce Committee within days and then passed by a full vote in the House earlier today, with 352 votes in favour to 65 against.

Previous attempts to ban TikTok in the US - including via an executive order issued by Donald Trump and a state-level law passed in Montana - were stalled in the courts on free speech grounds. If TikTok’s lobbyists and supporters in Washington can't kill the proposed act in the Senate, then plenty of legal action through the courts will almost certainly follow. 

Anyone thinking that ByteDance might be starting to think that this all sounds like a big old hassle, and that a speedy megabucks sell off might be an easier option, would be wrong. According to Bloomberg's sources, for ByteDance, a sell off is the absolute last resort. Not least because divesting TikTok would also require approval from the Chinese government, which has previously said it would firmly oppose a forced sale. So that would be quite a big hassle too. 

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Spotify Premium Adds Full Music Videos in 11 Countries (Digital Music News)

Spotify is stepping up its competition with YouTube Music by adding full music videos in 11 countries. Here’s the latest.

The music videos beta for Spotify Premium users is rolling out in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Brazil, Colombia, Philippines, Indonesia, and Kenya. All Spotify Premium members in these markets can see a ‘switch to video’ option on iOS, Android, PC/Mac, or TV to begin watching the music video for a song.

Spotify says it is collecting feedback from users and artists to “innovate and iterate” on the feature. The idea is to make Spotify a true hub for music where listeners can choose to watch the music video instead of heading to YouTube to see it.

“So many times in my own experience and for countless others, music videos play a key role in hooking you: taking you from being a listener to leaning in and becoming a fan,” adds Charlie Hellman, Vice President and Head of Music Product at Spotify. “They’re an important part of so many artists’ tool kits, and it’s a natural fit for them to live in the same place that more than half a billion people choose to listen to music.”

Spotify says providing access to full music videos will give artists even more ways to connect with new fans and loyal listeners. It has built out video features before including Canvas, Clips, while offering extensive opportunities for artists to feature their music in Artist Bios with live events and merch offerings.

The beta version of music videos on Spotify begins rolling out today with a limited catalog of music videos for hits from global artists including Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, Ice Spice and local favorites like Aluna and Asake.

It’s unclear when Spotify will provide the option for every artist to upload their music video—but that’s the direction Spotify is headed. Spotify wants to be a one-stop shop for audio listeners—which includes those who love music videos.