Music Industry

Facebook Signs More Big Music Licensing Deals. This Means WAY More Legal Music in Your Newsfeed.

After signing deals with both Universal and Sony/ATV, Facebook has nailed down three more major agreements with music publishers, deals that will make it legal for more music to travel through all many of Facebook feeds.

The deals make it possible for users to upload and share videos with copyright music (or using it in some way) while compensating the creators of that music.

And it’s not just on Facebook. The deal also covers Instagram and Oculus, both Facebook properties.

As far as I can tell, this is a win-win-win for everyone.

  • Facebook/Instagram users can post all manner of videos without having to worry about breaking any laws (providing, of course, the music rights are handled by one of the five companies party to the agreement).
  • Artists will get paid by Facebook everytime their stuff gets posted.
  • More music will be seen by more people.
  • Publishers/labels/artists/managers will get harvest all kinds of new user data.

Am I missing something? (Read more here.)

Meanwhile, there were be more changes to what we see in our newsfeeds thanks to a change in Facebook’s algorithms. Summed up, it means more items from friends and family (“personal moments,” in FB speak) with less priority given to junky stuff like viral videos and branded material.

 

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 38035 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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