Snap signs new music licensing deals to expand sound library

Snap has signed a deal with several music labels to expand its Sounds library, the social app’s product that lets people use song clips in Snaps and Stories.

The company said participating labels include UnitedMasters, based in the United States, BUMA/STEMRA, based in the Netherlands, and SUISA Digital Licensing AG. This includes a directory of intellectual property organizations, including SUISA: Switzerland, AKKA/LAA: Latvia, Albautor: Albania, Armauthor: Armenia, Autodia: Greece, COMP: Pakistan, EAÜ: Estonia, GCA: Georgia, LATGA: Lithuania, SOZA: Slovakia, Abramus Digital: Brazil, Soundreef: Italy and several directly licensed publishers.

A “selection” of works by singers and songwriters registered with UnitedMasters will be available in the SoundLibrary, Snap said. Additionally, the library of BUMA/STEMRA and SUISA Digital will add sounds from local artists.

“We’re excited to expand the Snapchat Sounds experience as we continue to create new tools and grow relationships with the music industry globally,” said Ted Suh, Global Head of Music Partnerships at Snap. , in a press release.

“By offering a wider selection of music, we want to enable discovery and make it easier for Snapchatters everywhere to express themselves creatively with the music they love.”

The company said emerging artists working with UnitedMasters will be eligible for grants through the Sounds Creator Fund. Snap launched this program last year in partnership with DistroKit to award up to $100,000 per month (or $5,000 at 20 songs per month to upcoming musicians.)

This grant also provides creative support for artists to establish “relevance” with audiences. Snap includes popular licensed songs in Sounds playlists so people can use them in the platform’s music videos. With the inclusion of new artists through this label deal, there will be more competition for those 20 spots.

Snap first launched the Sounds product in 2020 in response to TikTok becoming a hotbed of music discovery. Over the years, the company has signed deals with several labels, including Warner Music Group, Merlin (including their independent members), NMPA, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Kobalt BMG Music Publishing and Universal Music Group. Moreover, it has content from over 9,000 independent music publishers and labels in its library.

Earlier this year, YouTube made available to all participants of the YouTube Partner Program in the United States a new music licensing tool called Creator Music.