ByteDance and potential TikTok buyers haven't started negotiations, despite an approaching April 5th sale deadline in the United States, according to recent reports from Axios and other sources.


Several major obstacles stand in the way of a potential sale:

• Multibillion-dollar price tag
• Complex data migration requirements
• Algorithm ownership and transfer
• Chinese government approval needed
• Competition among potential buyers

The Chinese government, which owns a stake in ByteDance, must approve any TikTok transaction. Recent reports suggest Beijing is taking a "slow-rolling" approach to the sale, with no active negotiations currently taking place between ByteDance and prospective purchasers.

President Trump has indicated he would "probably" extend the April 5th deadline if no deal is reached, suggesting TikTok's U.S. fate won't be decided in the immediate future.

Many music industry stakeholders remain indifferent to TikTok's future due to:

• Poor music monetization, especially for independent artists
• Questions about virality's impact on sustainable streaming growth
• Ongoing concerns about the platform's long-term viability

If ByteDance and the Chinese government are serious about selling, negotiations will need to begin soon, given the complexity and scale of the potential transaction.

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