SAN FRANCISCO (CelebrityAccess) — Hot on the heels of the comprehensive licensing deals Facebook struck with Universal Music Group and Sony/ATV, the social media giant announced similar partnerships with Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights, as well as SESAC, HFA/Rumblefish, and Kobalt.
“Today, we are excited to announce that Global Music Rights, Irving Azoff’s US Performing Rights Organization, and Facebook have entered into Global Music Rights’ first-ever user-generated content deal. Global Music Rights represents such esteemed writers and performers as Pharrell Williams, Bruno Mars, Drake, Bruce Springsteen and Smokey Robinson, among others. We are thrilled to partner with Global Music Rights and look forward to building a bright future with Irving and their amazing writers,” Tamara Hrivnak, Facebook’s Head of Music Business Development and Partnerships said in a blog post.
While the details of the agreements were not disclosed, the previous deals with UMG and Sony pave the way for users to embed music videos from the publisher’s respective catalogs into social media posts that they can then share with friends and strangers via Facebook, Instagram, and the Oculus VR platform.
Facebook will utilize RumbleFish to identify and clear musical works to ensure rights holders receive proper royalty payments, the company said.
The deal marks the first user-generated content deal for Azoff’s GMR, which boasts a catalog that includes artists such as Drake, Bruno Mars, Prince, and John Lennon.
“Our partnership with Facebook reflects that when music is valued properly, it’s easy for both sides to view it as a win-win,” Irving Azoff said.
