Snap has signed a deal with multiple music labels to expand its Sounds library, the product of the social app that allows people to use song clips in Snaps and Stories.
The company said participating labels include US-based UnitedMasters, Netherlands-based BUMA/STEMRA and SUISA Digital Licensing AG. This includes a repertoire of IP authorities, 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 multiple direct-licensed publishers.
A “selection” of work from singers and songwriters signed up to UnitedMasters will be available in the SoundLibrary, Snap said. In addition, the library of BUMA/STEMRA and SUISA Digital will add sounds from local artists.
“We are excited to expand the Snapchat Sounds experience as we continue to build new tools and develop relationships with the music industry globally,” said Ted Suh, Global Head of Music Partnerships at Snap in a statement.
“By offering a wider selection of music, we want to enable discovery and make it easier for Snapchatters around the world to express themselves creatively with the music they love.”
The company said emerging artists working with UnitedMasters are eligible for grants through the Sounds Creator Fund. Snap started this program last year in partnership with DistroKit to award up to $100,000 per month (or $5,000 up to 20 songs per month to emerging musicians).
This grant also provides creative support to artists in establishing “relevance” with the public. Snap includes popular licensed songs in Sounds playlists for people to use in the video clips on the platform. With the inclusion of new artists through this label deal, there will be more competition to get into those 20 spots.
Snap first debuted the Sounds product in 2020 in response to TikTok becoming a hotbed for music discovery. Over the years, the company has signed deals with multiple labels, including Warner Music Group, Merlin (including their independent label members), NMPA, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Kobalt BMG Music Publishing, and Universal Music Group. In addition, it has content from over 9,000 independent music publishers and labels in its library.
Earlier this year, YouTube made a new music licensing tool called Creator Music available to all YouTube Partnership Program participants in the US