You may already be familiar with the annoying licencing ban which stopped you from using music by certain artists in Facebook or Instagram videos.
Previously, 'copyright issues' had meant that videos and audio by major artists were removed from any original content that you posted to Facebook or Instagram. However, a new deal that was struck yesterday between Facebook and UMG (Universal Music Group) means that that will all change.
Now, social media users will be allowed to legally upload and share music by UMG acts after the group licenced its catalogue to the two aforementioned platforms, as well as VR platform Oculus.
Facebook claimed that the deal 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-fuelled culture", while UMG said that it created "a dynamic new model for collaboration between music companies and social platforms."
UMG is the first of the three major music companies to strike such a deal. According to Variety, Warner Music may be next, although they and Sony declined to comment on the matter.
What this basically means is that you'll probably be seeing a lot more of your FB or Insta friends sharing videos of themselves miming to Adele, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and the like.
