Over the past few months, the way that we deliver your music to Meta (Facebook & Instagram) and TikTok has changed. Here’s what you need to know.
Audio Library and Fingerprint Rights
When we deliver your music to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, it is added to an “audio library” where users can search for and select licensed sounds to add to their videos (like Reels or Stories). If a user adds your track to their video from the audio library, this usage is monetized.
Previously, for a track to be available in these audio libraries, it also needed to have active “fingerprint rights,” which these services use to scan for videos where the user has included music in the background, rather than adding it from the audio library, and monetize those usages as well.
Because these services use very sensitive scanning technology, any non-original material in a track delivered with fingerprint rights (such as a third-party instrumental or a sound loop) can generate bad matches, which are a problem for everyone and can lead to the track being removed or worse.
To help reduce these issues, Meta and TikTok recently started allowing tracks to be available in their audio libraries without fingerprint rights.
And to protect artists from bad matches and keep our systems compliant, UnitedMasters no longer automatically delivers fingerprint rights for most tracks distributed by DEBUT, DEBUT+ and SELECT artists.
This means that background uses of recently distributed tracks on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok (i.e., when your music appears in the background of a Reel, Story, or video rather than being added from the audio library) are not automatically monetized.
Soon, this will apply to previously distributed tracks as well.
Requesting Background Monetization
If you want us to monetize background uses of your tracks on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, you can submit a request through this form, which will allow us to collect more information about their eligibility.
Please note that your track must meet the strict eligibility guidelines that you can find in our help center: What material is ineligible for Facebook/Instagram and TikTok?
Common examples of ineligible tracks include:
- Non-exclusively licensed beats (including “type beats”, whether they are purchased or downloaded for free)
- Tracks using production library music or stock beat packs
- Any sound that lacks “distinctiveness” or has shared rights
If your track does not meet these eligibility guidelines, your request will not be fulfilled - so if you want your music eligible for fingerprinting, start with original, exclusively licensed beats and fully cleared sounds.
UnitedMasters remains committed to maximizing your earnings, protecting your rights, and delivering your music to the world — the right way.
As always, if you have any questions, please submit a support request or email support@unitedmasters.com.
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