Universal Music Group inked the first deal with Facebook. Now, it’s Sony/ATV’s turn.
Facebook’s music ambitions are rapidly taking shape, thanks to a pair of momentous deals. Late last year, the social network finalized a groundbreaking pact with Universal Music Group, which includes Universal Music Publishing Group.
That looks like the first of many such deals. Just this morning, Facebook finalized an agreement with Sony/ATV, the largest music publisher in the world (at least according to Billboard). Sony/ATV is home to the publishing catalogs of a large number of superstar writers and songwriting performers, including Michael Jackson and the Beatles.
Collectively, the pair of mega-deals ensures that Facebook users will not have videos containing copyright music ripped down. Or, this at least dramatically reduces the chances — at least until other publishers and labels fall in line.
(One quick clarification: Sony/ATV is a music publishing company, meaning the company is focused on compositions instead of recordings. A composition refers to underlying song elements like notes and lyrics. The recording is the manifestation of those notes and lyrics into tangible form (like a yin/yang). Accordingly, Facebook is licensing both recording and publishing deals.)
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According to the publishing giant, the deal also covers Instagram and Oculus.
“Under the agreement, users will be able to upload and share videos on Facebook, Instagram and Oculus that contain compositions licensed from Sony/ATV’s catalog. They will also be able to personalize their music experiences with songs from the catalog,” the company confirmed.
Sony/ATV confirmed the deal to DMN this morning.
In total, Sony/ATV’s catalog contains 3 millions songs. Its deep, revenue-rich roster includes Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Carole King and Queen. But it also contains younger stars like the Chainsmokers, Drake, Pink, Ed Sheeran, Sia, Sam Smith, Taylor Swift, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams.
Oh, and a bunch of Motown tracks and classics like “Over The Rainbow,” “Moon River” and “Singin’ In The Rain,” all of which make for some great Facebook karaoke. “We are thrilled that in signing this agreement Facebook recognizes the value that music brings to their service and that our songwriters will now benefit from the use of their music on Facebook,” Sony/ATV chairman and CEO Marty Bandier shared.
“We are looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship.”
Interesting. But as the user uploading a video that contains a Sony/ATV song, I still have to obtain a license to use it in my original content, right? Go buy a license from harry fox or however that works? How DOES that work?
Or are you saying I can just use any Sony/ATV song for free with no paperwork involved?
I was wondering why don’t You have it where We can share the articles pertaining to Music and the Music Business on Facebook?