Facebook is making it easier for its partnered creators to play copyrighted songs in the background of their livestreams without running into legal issues. Facebook Gaming has teamed up with music labels and publishers to give its top streamers access to a vast library of songs that they can use while live-streaming games.
Leo Olebe, Global Director of Games Partnerships at Facebook, announced the latest change today. The songs covered include a variety of genres including current pop hits, dance floor beats, hip hop, and 80s classics. Access to copyrighted music is thanks to Facebook Gaming"s partnerships with Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Kobalt Music Group, BMG publishing, and Merlin. These licenses cover more than 90 countries.
It should be noted, though, that the licenses do not include every song. Some tracks are restricted and if players try to use those titles, they will receive a notification informing them of the restriction. However, Facebook didn"t say which songs are not covered by the agreement.
Streamers must also make sure that their livestreams focus on the gaming aspect, not on the song being played. For now, access to copyrighted music will be rolled out first to partnered streamers. Facebook plans to eventually bring it to Level Up creators in the future, although they can still access a catalog of royalty-free music and sound effects through Facebookâs Sound Collection.