Facebook are fixing their issues with music copyrights one step at a time and some big new licensing deals mark a big step.

Facebook have faced criticism for the rife infringement of music copyrights on the world’s biggest social media platform. They’ve recently been signing deals with the major labels, Universal and Sony/ATV are now pinned, in an attempt to resolve their issues at last, and new deals with major rights-holders mark their next step towards taking music seriously and not undercutting artists.

Earlier this week Facebook revealed that they had finalised a deal with Global Music Rights (GMR), Irving Azoff’s US Performing Rights Organisation. This is the first-ever user generated content deal for GMR who represents writers and performers like Pharrell, Drake, Bruno Mars, Bruce Springsteen, and more. Irving Azoff said: “Our partnership with Facebook reflects that when music is valued properly, it’s easy for both sides to view it as a win-win.”

As well as GMR Facebook signed deals with Kobalt Music Publishing and SESAC’s HFA/Rumblefish this week. The head of Commercial Music Publishing Partnerships at Facebook, Scott Sellwood said: “Facebook and SESAC’s HFA/Rumblefish are excited to offer the vibrant independent publishing community the opportunity to participate in a new licensing program with Facebook. The program will enable users to upload and share videos with music on Facebook, Instagram and Oculus and allows publishers to be compensated for the use of their music.”

NMPA President & CEO David Israelite adds, “This new partnership between Facebook and the music publishing industry is a great step forward for the platform and for songwriters. Music provides value to Facebook and its users and ensuring that the creators of that music are compensated is paramount. We appreciate Facebook’s willingness to recognise the economic contribution of songwriters as well as its effort to create a system that properly streamlines payments moving forward. Other digital services should take note and follow suit.”

It seems that Facebook are taking music licensing fully seriously now and with all of their new deals we could soon see music on Facebook, but legitimately. This means artists, writers and rights-holders will finally be paid for uses of their music, creations, and copyrights on the social media giant.