On Monday 12 Aug 2024, Meta and Universal Music Group (UMG) announced an extension of their multi-year music licensing agreement. Through this agreement, Meta’s platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Horizon, Threads, and WhatsApp) will support the sharing of UMG’s music library legally.
This new agreement highlights the fact that the companies are working together to protect users from the transmission of “unauthorized artificial intelligence content.”
Musicians and artists are increasingly at risk of AI fakes, and AI companies are using their work as training material for AI models.
More About the Meta Ai Update on the Music Deal
TikTok removed UMG’s music catalog from its short-form video app after a feud with the company in May. UMG stated its concerns regarding artificial intelligence and online safety in a statement released in February. TikTok and Billie Eilish announced a truce in May, allowing artists like Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift to resume posting their music.
A lawsuit is also being filed by the Recording Industry Association of America ( representing UMG and other major labels ) about the AI-based music generation startups Udio and Suno. In the lawsuit, both parties claim that their AI models were trained using copyrighted music. It was revealed earlier this month that Sudo had been using copyrighted music, although he claimed that it was legal.
Meta, meanwhile, claims to use only Meta-owned and specifically licensed music to train its AI music models (AudioCraft, MusicGen, and Jasco). It should be noted, however, that Meta acknowledges the possibility of deep-faking vocals using AudioCraft.
Also Read: An Easy Guide to Using Meta AI in WhatsApp and Instagram
Umg Statement in the Press for Update
As a consequence of this cooperation, UMG will be able to continue to protect artists and songwriters’ rights now and in the future by addressing unauthorized AI-generated content that could impact them,” Michael Nash, chief digital officer, and executive vice president at UMG said in a statement.
Universal Music Pens Meta Deal for Music to Appear on Whatsapp
A new licensing arrangement with Meta Platforms will allow Universal Music Group artists to upload songs to WhatsApp for the first time.
With a new global agreement, the world’s largest music company will allow its artists and songwriters to share and use their songs on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Horizon, Threads, and WhatsApp, as well as Meta’s global network of platforms. Elton John, Taylor Swift, and Adele are among the artists included in the group.
WhatsApp users can also share UMG music for the first time through the instant messaging app. Threads, which is owned by Meta and is X’s (Twitter’s) direct competitor, is also part of the package.
As part of the first partnership between Meta and UMG in 2017, Facebook users could upload and share videos showcasing UMG’s songs.
