Facebook Music has officially tapped TuneCore as the second indie distributor (alongside DistroKid) for its newly launched Independent Artist Program.
New York City-headquartered TuneCore acknowledged the development today, via a formal release that was shared with Digital Music News. And at the time of this piece’s publishing, the Believe subsidiary and the eight-year-old DistroKid remained the only entities that Facebook Music had added to its list of “preferred distribution partners” under the Independent Artist Program.
It’s unclear whether the social-media platform intends to work with other indie distributors moving forward – or when these possible additions will arrive – but TuneCore artists can now “distribute their music everywhere Facebook offers a music library,” including on stories and Instagram Reels, according to the 16-year-old TuneCore’s release.
Addressing the Independent Artist Program’s rollout and the preferred-distributor partnerships in a statement, Chris Papaleo, Facebook’s music business development manager, said, “Facebook is proud to make it easier for independent artists and creators to reach new audiences on our platform and build community through music.
“When joining our Independent Artist Program, creators are backed by our outstanding distribution partners, allowing them to get their music in front of more people, across all of our apps,” finished Papaleo, whose company unveiled licensed music videos in July of 2020 and inked major-label gaming licenses in September.
Additionally, TuneCore co-head and chief revenue officer Andreea Gleeson, in a statement of her own, noted the broader music-industry implications of Facebook’s Independent Artist Program.
“These days we are seeing a leveling of the playing field as discovery is happening via social media and no longer solely dependent on industry executives and DJs handpicking hits,” said the more than five-year TuneCore veteran.
“With the popularity of short form videos, Facebook Stories and Instagram Reels are two important platforms on which fans are finding songs and artists, with careers being made when songs go viral. The Facebook Independent Artist Program provides an even greater gateway for indie artists from around the world to be heard,” finished Gleeson.
In late May, following a much-publicized (and months-long) impasse, Universal Music Group and Triller inked “expanded worldwide licensing agreements” for both recorded music and publishing. Plus, the TikTok competitor (which acquired Verzuz in March) partnered with SoundCloud last month to promote emerging artists.
YouTube’s answer to TikTok, YouTube Shorts, debuted in India (where TikTok is banned) last September. And about 10 days back, following a March arrival in the United States, the short-form video platform announced that it would expand into Canada, Latin America, and the UK – while also adding new features.
No details on the licensing agreements FB/IG made with DistroKid and TuneCore? They’re paying SOMETHING – TuneCore mentions that artists will “keep 80% of the revenue”.
DistroKid will be a FuckedCompany soon enough…just a matter of time.
I think they already have been. Have seen for myself the much worse support, and am hearing the same from others. As far as F*ckBook Indie Music Program, Roger Waters had it right, Z*ck can go F himself.
Worth noting that RouteNote had a distribution partnership to get independent artists on Instagram Stories & Reels, as well as to license their music in Facebook videos long before either of these companies. Would be great to see Facebook acknowledge that in their Independent Artist Program.
RouteNote also provide it for free, unlike Tunecore and DistroKid.