Downtown Music Publishing VP: Facebook Video Unfair To Songwriters

Downtown Music Publishing

FACEBOOK's video platform does not do enough to protect the rights of songwriters, argues DOWNTOWN MUSIC PUBLISHING VP Technology JOE CONYERS III in a MEDIUM op-ed posted today.

With analysts estimating FACEBOOK generating $3.8 billion in advertising revenue by 2017, its inability to monetize the various versions of a songwriter's work that may appear on its video platform -- covers, live versions, karaoke, remixes, etc. -- fails to adequately credit songwriters.

The op-ed calls for FACEBOOK to do what VEVO and SOUNDCLOUD don't: license directly with publishers, as a measure to avoid delayed payments and non-transparency. CONYERS then breaks down specific steps FACEBOOK can take to create an open and honest rights deal with songwriters.

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