WMG EXPANDS META LICENSING PACT

According to published reports, Warner Music Group has renewed a multi-year licensing agreement with Meta, covering the latter's Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Horizon, Threads and, for the first time, WhatsApp.

It follows a recent expansion of Meta's licensing deal with UMG to include WhatsApp.

The Warner/Meta partnership also aims to address the safe use of generative AI, which WMG CEO Robert Kyncl (pictured) has made a priority this year.

The exec testified to the House Judiciary Committee on the subject in April, and in July, Warner Records joined Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group in RIAA-filed copyright-infringement lawsuits against music companies Suno and Udio over their unlicensed use of copyrighted sound recordings to train their generative AI models.