Meta and Universal Music Group (UMG) have taken a significant step forward in their long-standing partnership by expanding their multi-year music licensing agreement. This collaboration, which allows users to share UMG’s extensive music library across Meta’s platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, Horizon, Threads, and WhatsApp—without infringing on copyright, now includes a crucial new element: addressing the rise of unauthorized AI-generated content.
The inclusion of this clause reflects the growing concern among artists and songwriters over the misuse of their work by AI systems. These technologies often scrape songs without the original creators’ consent, using them to train AI models that can then generate content mimicking the style or voice of the artists. This issue has become a pressing one in the music industry, with many creators fearing the potential for AI fakes to dilute their work and infringe on their intellectual property rights.
Michael Nash, UMG’s Chief Digital Officer and Executive Vice President, highlighted the importance of this issue in a recent statement: “We look forward to continuing to work together to address unauthorized AI-generated content that could affect artists and songwriters so that UMG can continue to protect their rights both now and in the future.”
This expansion comes in the wake of a high-profile dispute between UMG and TikTok earlier this year, during which UMG’s music catalog was temporarily removed from the platform due to concerns over AI and online safety. The companies resolved their differences in May, allowing artists like Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift to return to TikTok, but the incident underscores the tension between music rights holders and digital platforms in the age of AI.
The renewed Meta-UMG agreement also coincides with an ongoing legal battle initiated by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)—which represents UMG and other major labels—against AI music startups Udio and Suno. The lawsuit accuses these companies of training their AI models using copyrighted music without permission, sparking a broader conversation about the legality of such practices under fair use.
Meta, for its part, is positioning itself as a leader in ethical AI music generation. The company has launched several generative AI models, including AudioCraft, MusicGen, and Jasco, which it claims are trained exclusively with Meta-owned or specifically licensed music. However, Meta has acknowledged the potential for misuse of these tools, particularly in the creation of deepfake audio.
A noteworthy aspect of this updated agreement is that it marks the first time WhatsApp users will be able to share licensed music from UMG within the messaging app. This expansion also extends to Threads, Meta’s social networking app designed to compete directly with X (formerly Twitter).
The roots of Meta and UMG’s collaboration date back to 2017, when they first partnered to allow Facebook users to upload and share videos featuring songs from UMG’s catalog. This latest development not only strengthens their relationship but also sets a precedent for how tech companies and music labels can work together to navigate the complex landscape of AI and digital content.
Source: Techcrunch
