Facebook is expanding its music licensing mission into Asia and beyond

Facebook has secured major-league deals in the US and Europe with some of music’s biggest hitters over the past few months.

The likes of Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony/ATV, Kobalt, HFA/Rumblefish, SACEM, SOCAN and Wixen have all inked agreements that will see their repertoire being made legally available to users of the social media service in multiple territories.

One controversial element of these agreements is, we hear, that these are ‘blind’ checks: effectively, advances that are not tied to any kind of usage reports from Facebook.

(We also hear that the social media service has committed to building a system which will be able to provide such usage reports – and therefore royalty reports – in the future.)

Now, Facebook is showing its intention to grow its music strategy even further around the world.

MBW has spotted two new senior job adverts from the company which seek music licensing experts to cover the Asia-Pacific region.

“[These roles] will focus on Facebook’s strategy and negotiations with music labels in Asia, as well as collaborate with our product and media partnerships teams to ensure a coordinated and best-in-class licensing structure.”

Facebook job ads

The Label Music Business Development Manager (APAC) and Music Publishing Business Development (APAC) roles will be based in the Facebook offices in either Tokyo, Singapore or Seoul.

The label role ‘will focus on Facebook’s strategy and negotiations with music labels in Asia, as well as collaborate with our product and media partnerships teams to ensure a coordinated and best-in-class licensing structure’.

Facebook is looking for a candidate who offers ‘8+ years of experience in music partner relationship management, focused primarily on working with Asian music partners’.

Unsurprisingly, the publishing role is similarly written, focusing on ‘Facebook’s strategy and negotiations with APAC music publishers and societies, as well as collaborate with our product and media partnerships teams to ensure a coordinated and best-in-class licensing structure’.

It requires a candidate with 10+ years of experience in music partner relationship management.

Announcing Warner’s new deal with Facebook earlier this month, the major’s Chief Digital Officer, Ole Obermann, said:

“Fan-created video is one of the most personal, social and often viral ways that music is enjoyed, but its commercial potential is largely untapped.

“This collaboration will lead to new possibilities for our artists, while enhancing the user experience across Facebook, Instagram and Oculus, and enabling people to communicate and express themselves using the music they love.”Music Business Worldwide

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