The social media platform has signed a new licensing agreement with the music company, similar to a deal they recently struck with UMG

Facebook have agreed a new licensing deal with Warner Music which will allow users to freely use music by Warner-signed artists in their posts on Facebook’s social media platforms.

The agreement follows a few months after Facebook struck a similar deal with the Universal Music Group (UMG), with the agreement seeing UMG license its music and publishing catalogues for video on Facebook and its affiliated platforms. Facebook also recently agreed a similar deal with Sony/ATV, one of the world’s biggest music publishers.

Today’s announcement (March 9) has seen Facebook strengthen its hand when it comes to music licensing, with business experts seeing the move as an advancement in Facebook’s ongoing rivalry with the Google-owned YouTube.

Facebook’s agreement with Warner Music will allow both Facebook and Instagram users to post videos or send messages with music by artists who are signed to Warner. Their impressive roster includes such artists as Ed Sheeran, Gorillaz and Cardi B.

According to Warner Music’s chief digital officer Ole Obermann, Facebook and Warner Music’s partnership “will help expand the universe of music streaming and create supplementary revenue for artists”.

“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,” he said.