Meta and Universal Music Group (UMG) have entered into a new multi-year licensing agreement aimed at expanding the use of UMG's content across Meta's social apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Horizon, Threads, and for the first time, WhatsApp.

This agreement builds on UMG's history with Meta, as it was the first major music company to license its music catalogs for Facebook's platforms back in 2017.

A significant focus of the new agreement is to collaboratively tackle unauthorized AI-generated content that could negatively impact artists and songwriters.

UMG is particularly concerned about protecting its artists from unauthorized AI content and plans to work closely with Meta to address these challenges.

The renewed agreement also emphasizes fair compensation for artists and songwriters, a critical aspect of the partnership.

UMG's Chief Digital Officer, Michael Nash, expressed satisfaction with Meta's commitment to respecting creativity and protecting artists' rights, highlighting the importance of music on Meta's platforms.

The partnership aims to enhance monetization opportunities for UMG and its artists, particularly through short-form video content across all platforms.

Tamara Hrivnak, Meta's VP of music and content business development, emphasized that music plays a crucial role in connecting fans, artists, and songwriters across Meta's apps.

UMG, valued at $54 billion, represents over a third of the music market and recently resolved a contentious negotiation with TikTok, allowing its artists' music to return to the platform.

This agreement comes in the wake of a lawsuit by the Recording Industry Association of America against AI music generation startups for allegedly using copyrighted music to train their AI models.

Both companies are committed to protecting human creators and ensuring fair compensation for artists and songwriters, addressing concerns over unauthorized AI-generated content.