Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Facebook have announced a licensing agreement. The deal with the social media giant follows Universal Music Group’s comprehensive deal covering recordings and publishing.
The multi-territory, multi-year deal is the first between the publisher and Facebook.
The partnership will give Sony/ATV’s songwriters the opportunity to earn royalties from the use of their music on both Facebook and Instagram.
Under the agreement, users will be able to upload and share videos on Facebook and Instagram, as well as Oculus, that contain compositions licensed from Sony/ATV’s catalogue as well as personalise their music experiences with songs from the catalogue.
Sony/ATV chairman and CEO Martin Bandier said: “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. We are looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship."
Tamara Hrivnak, head of music business development and partnerships, Facebook said: “We’re excited to work with the largest music publisher in the world to bring amazing songs which deepen connections between friends and fans. Sony/ATV is a true leader and an absolute champion of writers in the digital space, and we’re thrilled to work with them as they grab new opportunities by the horns across all of our platforms."
Sony/ATV’s contemporary roster includes social-media friendly artists including The Chainsmokers, Drake, Pink, Ed Sheeran, Sia, Sam Smith, Taylor Swift, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams, alongside classic songs from The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Carole King and Queen.
Despite industry concern at issues such as its lack of a PRS For Music licence, the social media tech giant and the music business have been finding common ground over the licensing and use of content.
A spokesperson for PRS for Music told Music Week last month: “Conversations with Facebook and ICE, our online licensing vehicle, are ongoing and we look forward to reaching an agreement.”
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