Snapchat renews global music publishing deal with NMPA
With a $15 million agreement and wider music integration, Snapchat positions itself as a more artist-friendly social platform.
Snapchat’s latest licensing agreement: A quick breakdown
Snapchat has renewed its global music publishing licensing agreement with the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA). This is a renewed deal between Snap and music publishers, first established a few years ago. It spans two years and secures nearly $15 million in guaranteed revenue for participating music publishers.
The agreement includes a “no-sue” clause, meaning that publishers can not “sue Snap or its users for the use of musical composition or lyrics… in order to enter into the License agreement”.
Who’s covered under the deal
This is an opt-in agreement for NMPA members, meaning publishers had to choose to participate. There was a 90-day window to opt-in which expired in March, with NMPA members who opted in now being eligible to receive share of the revenue on a pro-rata, market share basis.
Those who didn’t opt in before the deadline or who aren’t members of the NMPA will have to strike separate deals with Snap. However, Snap has made it clear that it “flat-out isn’t doing deals” with anyone else.
Fortunately, many of the world’s biggest publishers have already secured independent licensing agreements with Snap. This includes major names like Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, and BMG Rights Management.
With the NMPA already covering a wide international footprint, the agreement provides significant global coverage, with Argentina being a rare exception.
How this benefits artists and songwriters
Snapchat’s proactive stance on music publishing contrasts sharply with platforms like X, which remains in legal disputes with major music publishers. By aligning itself with publishers and rightsholders, Snapchat is strengthening its relationship with the music community- a move that could lead to increased exposure and monetization opportunities for artists.
The licensing agreement covers all of Snapchat’s features and subsidiaries, including Bitmoji. This opens the door for deeper music integrations across the platform, such as in-app music performances, or campaigns for new releases catered to Snapchat’s user base.
These features create fresh opportunities for artists and songwriters to connect with audiences in innovative, immersive ways.
A win for the music industry
This renewed agreement reflects growing momentum in the music industry’s effort to secure better deals with social platforms. Global organizations and rightsholders representatives have been pushing for this, and this is another positive signal that their rights are being taken seriously.
For independent artists and songwriters, publishing collection agencies mean more avenues to collect royalties from the composition they create. In a landscape where publishing income is becoming an increasingly vital revenue stream, moves like this ensure that creatives are rewarded when their music is used across popular platforms.
If you’re an independent artist, songwriter or publisher, now is the time to make sure you’re collecting all the royalties you deserve. With RouteNote Publishing, you can start collecting royalties on the compositions you’ve written. Find out if you’re eligible for RouteNote Publishing today.