Top Dem TikTok lobbyist loses client due to work with Chinese app.

Former Congressman Joe Crowley Dropped as Music Industry Association Chairman Over TikTok Lobbying

MusicFirst Cuts Ties with Crowley

The music industry association, MusicFirst, has cut ties with former Democratic congressman Joe Crowley as its chairman due to his lobbying work for Chinese social media app TikTok. MusicFirst is a trade group that works to “ensure music creators get fair pay for their work.” According to Politico, the group had concerns that Crowley’s TikTok lobbying was a conflict of interest.

Crowley’s TikTok Lobbying

Crowley and his firm, Dentons, registered earlier this year as lobbyists for TikTok, joining a growing list of influential Democrats flacking for the China-controlled social media platform. Lawmakers are seeking to ban TikTok due to national security concerns over the app’s data collection practices and harmful content.

Impact on Crowley’s Ties to the White House

While Crowley’s TikTok work was a dealbreaker for MusicFirst, it’s unclear if the lobbying will impact his close ties to the White House. Crowley had at least four White House visits last year, including with presidential special assistant John McCarthy in August and White House adviser Mariana Adame in September, according to the Washington Free Beacon.

Parting Statement from MusicFirst

In a statement to Politico, MusicFirst praised Crowley for “his lifetime of leadership and fierce advocacy on behalf of artists.” Crowley told the news outlet that it “wasn’t a bad breakup.”

Crowley, the former chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, lost his seat in Congress to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) in a 2018 Democratic primary.