Facebook signs music licensing deal with Universal Music Group

Facebook and Universal Music Group (UMG) have signed an ‘unprecedented global, multi-year agreement’ under which UMG licenses both its recorded music and publishing catalogs for video and other social experiences across Facebook, Instagram and VR platform Oculus.

According to a press release: ‘The partnership will facilitate deeper engagement between artists and fans, empowering users to express themselves through music, share the songs they love and build communities around music-fueled culture. Enabling a variety of features across Facebook’s platforms, the agreement is intended to serve as a foundation for a strategic partnership roadmap that will deliver new music-based experiences online.’

Under the partnership, users will be able to upload videos that contain licensed music and ‘personalize their music experiences’ on Facebook, Instagram and Oculus, while sharing videos with friends and family.

Functionality will expand in future to ‘enable access to a vast library of music across a series of social features’.

Tamara Hrivnak, Head of Music Business Development and Partnerships, Facebook, said, “There is a magnetic relationship between music and community building. We are excited to bring that to life on Facebook, Instagram, Oculus and Messenger in partnership with UMG. Music lovers, artists and writers will all be right at home as we open up creativity, connection and innovation through music and video.”