Facebook recently launched Sound Collection, a new feature that allows users to add licensed music to their Facebook Stories and Reels. With Sound Collection, you can search for and add clips of popular songs to customize your videos. This has led some users to wonder – can I use Facebook Sound Collection music in my live streams or other streaming content outside of Stories and Reels?
What is Facebook Sound Collection?
Facebook Sound Collection is a library of licensed music that Facebook users can add to their Stories and Reels. It gives you access to an extensive catalog of mainstream hits and viral song snippets to make your short videos more dynamic.
To use it, you simply select the Music sticker when creating a Story or Reel on mobile. You can then search for songs, artists, genres etc and add a clip of the track to your video. The music plays only within that Story or Reel, and rights holders get paid for its use.
Sound Collection launched in the US and Canada in early 2023 and is expected to expand globally. It’s similar to TikTok’s sounds library that has helped make musical memes go viral on that platform.
Can I use Sound Collection for streaming?
No, the Facebook Sound Collection license does not cover using the music in live streams or any other content you produce outside of Stories and Reels. The music clips can only be used within Facebook Stories and Reels posts.
If you try to use Sound Collection music in a video live stream on Facebook, Instagram or any other platform, that would be considered copyright infringement. The license only allows a short snippet of the song to be used in the context of a Story/Reel, not for an entire video or live stream soundtrack.
Why is Sound Collection limited to Stories/Reels?
There are a few reasons why the Sound Collection license is restricted in this way:
- The short clips work well for short-form social videos but aren’t licensed for broader usage like streaming.
- It allows rights holders to be paid specifically for Stories/Reels usage, which is measurable and trackable.
- Unrestricted use beyond Stories/Reels would require a broader and more expensive license agreement.
- Restricting the music to ephemeral Stories/Reels reduces piracy risks compared to enabling it for downloads or streaming.
So in summary, the licensing agreement was deliberately crafted to serve the use case of short social videos that enhance the Stories/Reels experience. Streaming media has different considerations, and would require its own separate licensing deals with music labels and publishers.
What are the risks of using Sound Collection music for streaming?
There are a few potential risks if you use Facebook Sound Collection music without permission in your streams or other videos outside of Stories/Reels:
- Copyright strike: Your video could get removed, and your account penalized for copyright infringement.
- DMCA takedown: Rights holders can issue DMCA takedowns forcing the removal of unauthorized copies.
- Legal action: In serious cases, you could face lawsuits over unlicensed usage.
- Facebook ban: Using Sound Collection music improperly may get your Facebook/Instagram account banned.
The bottom line is – don’t do it! Stick to only using the short Sound Collection clips within Facebook Stories and Reels to avoid any issues.
What are the alternatives for streaming music?
While you can’t use Facebook Sound Collection, there are plenty of legitimate options to add music to your streams and videos:
- Licensed streaming music services – Use Spotify, Apple Music, etc to playback full licensed tracks. Comply with their usage terms.
- Music distributions platforms – DistroKid, CD Baby, etc let artists self-publish music to streaming services.
- Creative Commons music – CC-licensed music can be used freely within the license terms.
- Public domain works – Classics & old recordings no longer under copyright.
- Original/cover songs – Play your own songs or covers with proper songwriting credits.
The safest approach is to only use music you have confirmed rights to stream. Don’t try to misuse short social media clips as it violates copyright.
Can I dispute a copyright claim if I misuse a Sound Collection song?
No, you would have no grounds to dispute a takedown request or copyright strike if you misused a Facebook Sound Collection song outside of Stories/Reels. The license terms strictly limit its usage, so you would be clearly infringing if you streamed the music without permission.
Don’t try to dispute valid copyright claims as that can make the situation worse. Removing unauthorized copies and avoiding posting the infringing content again is recommended. You may also need to request reinstatement of your account if it was restricted.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook Sound Collection music can only be used within Stories and Reels, not for streaming.
- The short clips are licensed specifically for ephemeral social videos.
- Using Sound Collection music improperly violates copyright and risks account restrictions.
- For streaming, use fully licensed music services, Creative Commons tracks or original music.
- Don’t dispute valid takedowns if you misused a Sound Collection song.
Conclusion
Facebook Sound Collection provides a great way to enhance your short-form social videos on Stories and Reels. But the license is very narrow – you can’t reuse those music clips for live streaming or other content. Only use Sound Collection properly within Stories/Reels to avoid copyright issues. For streaming music, look at the many legitimate options available to add legal soundtracks to your videos.