Going live on Facebook from a concert or music festival is a great way to share the experience with friends and fans who couldn’t attend. However, there are some important rules and restrictions around streaming live video from these events that you need to be aware of. In this article, we’ll look at whether it’s allowed to go Facebook Live at a concert, the rules around live streaming, best practices for doing it safely and legally, and the pros and cons of sharing your concert experience in real time.
Is it allowed to Facebook Live at a concert?
The short answer is: it depends. Many major concerts and music festivals prohibit filming and especially live streaming without permission from the artist and/or event organizers. This is usually stated clearly in the fine print when you purchase tickets or gain admission to the event.
Rules vary between different venues and events, but in general you should not assume that Facebook Live or any kind of video recording is allowed without checking first. Some events will have clear signage saying no photos or videos are permitted.
Even if recording is allowed, going live on social media may still be prohibited. This is because a Facebook Live broadcast can be considered a commercial use of an artist’s music or image, which requires specific permissions under copyright law.
Streaming a concert is essentially broadcasting it publicly, even if it’s only visible to your friends and followers. So you could get in legal trouble for sharing content you don’t have the rights to distribute in that way.
Concert and festival policies on mobile devices
Many major concert tours, festivals, and venues now have official policies on the use of mobile phones and devices during events. This includes rules around:
– Taking photos or videos
– Live streaming to social media
– General use of phones that could be disruptive or infringe on other patrons’ enjoyment
These rules are in place to protect the performer’s rights and prevent interference with their show. But they also aim to create a more immersed experience for attendees by limiting how much people are focused on their screens.
Some examples of specific policies:
Coachella Festival
Coachella prohibits “unauthorized professional filming equipment” including detachable lenses, stands, monopods, tripods or other commercial equipment. But mobile phones are allowed for personal photography and video “in limited quantities”. Live streaming is subject to artist approval.
Lollapalooza Festival
At Lollapalooza, “recording devices including cell phones” are allowed but only for personal, non-commercial use. They discourage live streaming or sharing full performances without artist permission. Professional recording is prohibited.
Bonnaroo Festival
Bonnaroo allows mobile phones and personal cameras but expressly prohibits live streaming performances without authorization. They state that unauthorized live streaming may result in revocation of your festival credentials.
Major concert tours
Many big concert tours like Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour have banned smartphone usage completely during the show. Others like Beyoncé’s Formation Tour allowed phones but banned flash photography and live streaming.
The general rule is if a phone is allowed, you can take photos and videos, but sharing live on social media is usually prohibited or at least discouraged without permission.
Best practices for live streaming responsibly
If you do want to go Facebook Live from a concert or festival, here are some tips to do it safely, legally and without disturbing others:
– Review all event policies carefully and follow them. Assume live streaming is not permitted unless explicitly stated.
– Only go live for 1-2 minutes max at a time. Don’t broadcast whole songs or prolonged footage.
– Hold your phone very still to avoid shaking, limit panning around, and keep bright lights off.
– Stream from further back in a crowd rather than close to the stage, so you’re not blocking anyone’s view.
– Consider audio-only streaming just to capture the music without sharing visuals. This is less distracting for those around you.
– Monitor comments on your live video and end the broadcast immediately if anyone asks you to stop or complains.
– Be prepared to stop if requested by security or event staff. Arguing could get you removed from the venue.
– Obtain artist permission if possible, especially if you have a large audience. This protects you legally.
– Delete any saved recordings that include significant portions of the performance after your event.
The safest option is not to rely on live streaming at a concert and just be present in the moment. But if you do want to share short glimpses of your experience, be respectful to the attendees around you and the performers on stage.
Potential issues with Facebook Live at concerts
There are a few risks and downsides associated with using Facebook Live from a concert or music festival without proper permission:
– You could transmit content illegally and face copyright infringement claims over using an artist’s music without authorization. Fines for unauthorized live streams can be $150,000 or more in some cases.
– It can be disruptive to other fans if your bright phone screen is in their line of sight or you’re blocking views while broadcasting. This takes away from their concert enjoyment.
– Overuse of phones at concerts gives the event a reputation of having audiences not fully engaged and present for the performers. This hurts the live experience.
– Security and event staff may confiscate your phone or remove you from the premises if you break venue policies on filming and live streaming.
– The performer may be distracted or annoyed by unauthorized sharing of their work, which hurts the relationship with fans.
– Broadcasts may be unstable or lose connection in crowded areas, leading to spotty transmission quality from the event.
The best advice is to use caution if you want to capture snippets from a concert on social media. Never assume it’s permitted without checking, and focus on enjoying the show rather than sharing it with the outside world. Short highlights are okay, but extended use of Facebook Live infringes on everyone’s experience.
Benefits of live streaming concerts with permission
There are also some potential benefits associated with live streaming from concerts when done properly:
– It lets you share an artist you love with friends and followers who couldn’t be there in person.
– Fans appreciate glimpses of their favorite performers through your eyes when they live vicariously through your video.
– For touring bands, it helps build buzz and hype around the show when audiences across the world can get a taste of the experience.
– When permitted by event staff, it enables those with disabilities or mobility issues to enjoy some parts of a concert virtually.
– Your unique vantage point presents angles and snippets that professional broadcasts don’t always capture.
– If you have permission from organizers, it provides a way to monetize your event content through tipping or partnerships.
– For up-and-coming artists, authorized streams help them gain more exposure.
Live streaming with consent from the act can enhance the concert experience for fans at home. But unauthorized broadcasts mostly just serve to benefit the person filming rather than the wider audience.
Professional and personal use permissions
Most major festivals and concert tours now differentiate between personal use of phones versus professional live streaming:
– Personal use: Typically allows photos, videos and incidental social sharing from phones as long as it’s non-disruptive and doesn’t involve extended streaming.
– Professional use: Requires accredited press credentials and/or special permission to stream lengthy footage using professional equipment. Subject to copyright restrictions.
– Artist permission: Separate direct approval from the performer or their management team is often also required, especially for sharing full concert streams.
So unless you have press access, all you can legally share on social media as an average attendee is short clips and photos that don’t add up to a significant portion of a performance. Don’t rely on live streaming whole shows without the act’s blessing.
Copyright law and live streams
One reason that live streaming from concerts is so heavily restricted is copyright law. The public performance or broadcast of creative works like music and video require permission from content owners.
Some key copyright factors around concert live streams:
– The compositions performed (lyrics, melodies, etc.) are owned by publishers and songwriters who must approve broadcasts beyond personal use.
– The specific recordings and arrangements are owned by record labels who also control transmission rights.
– The artist’s visual likeness and choreography are protected under their own image rights and publicity consent policies.
– The organizer’s event production, lighting, visuals etc. are covered by copyright that prevents rebroadcasting their content without approval.
Essentially every aspect of a professional concert is proprietary material belonging to someone. Live streaming publishes it more widely and can infringe on many stakeholders’ rights. That’s why permissions are so important.
Fair use exceptions
There are some “fair use” exceptions in copyright law that allow brief, limited sharing of copyrighted material without permission. This applies to things like commentary, news reporting, education, and parody.
For concerts, some personal social media use may qualify as fair use, such as:
– Uploading short 10-60 second video clips of performances.
– Live streaming or sharing photos solely from the audience perspective without capturing the stage.
– Posting unauthorized content that also provides significant commentary or critique that transforms it.
However, in general, sharing long portions of a show or direct audiovisual captures from the stage would require authorization from rights holders to defend as fair use. Don’t rely on fair use to justify extensive concert live streaming. Get permission.
What content can you legally stream?
To recap, as an average attendee, these types of concert content are typically fine to share on social media without permission:
– Your own photos and videos from the audience perspective, not exceeding 1-2 minutes per clip. Avoid extended, continual recording.
– Fan experience elements like venue crowds, lines,activities rather than the show itself.
– Backstage access granted officially by event staff, often signaled by special badges.
– Audio-only ambient recordings that don’t directly capture major portions of a performance.
– Authorized content explicitly permitted by event policies and/orPressEvent policies and/or the performer.
These types of content usually require permissions and should not be live streamed otherwise:
– Visuals clearly showing the performer(s) on stage.
– Direct audio capturing the music performance, whether video or audio-only.
– Recordings focused on the event production elements like lights, screens, stage design.
– Lengthy clips exceeding fair use that reproduce significant portions of songs or sets.
When in doubt, don’t live stream it or check with event staff. Never assume unauthorized broadcasting is permitted without explicit confirmation. Respect the rules and enjoy the show.
Places you can stream concerts legally
If you do want to live stream full concert performances legally, here are some options:
– Many artists and festivals offer official live streams through partners like LiveNation often for a fee. Look for authorized channels.
– Smaller local venues and emerging artists are more likely to allow and encourage streaming to help them grow an audience.
– Some public community concerts, street performances or impromptu live music may be fine to broadcast based on location rules.
– Virtual concerts boomed during covid lockdowns. Many are specifically designed for streaming by granting platform permissions.
– Legal taping sections allowsome sharing at certain jam band or more permissive shows. Look for fan tapers.
The key is finding events promoted for live streaming or asking artists that encourage audience participation on social media. Don’t assume all venues and performers approve without confirmation.
Will you get in trouble for illegal concert streams?
It depends on factors like stream length, visibility and copyright enforcement priorities:
– Casual incidental use is unlikely to prompt action unless done repeatedly and egregiously. You may just get a warning.
– Highly publicized, good quality streams that go viral are more likely to get identified and restricted via Facebook’s systems.
– Long streams that capture entire performances or albums will trigger swifter copyright action like social media takedowns or legal demands.
– Repeat unauthorized streaming offenders may get banned from an artist’s shows or have streaming privileges revoked entirely by platforms.
– Making money from illegal concert streams via tipped live streams, donations, ad revenue sharing, etc. poses a much higher legal risk.
For the average fan, a short accidental stream will probably go unnoticed. But brazen, regular illegal broadcasting risks consequences like removal of your account and video content. Be careful.
Famous cases and legal precedent
There is legal precedent showing the significant damages that can result from unauthorized concert live streams:
– In 2013, app company Myxer streamed 12 concerts illegally and was ordered to pay $7.8 million in damages to major record labels.
– In 2016, musician William Spooner had to pay $62,500 for sharing pirated concert videos on YouTube.
– In 2017, an unauthorized live streamer of Coachella was sued for $150,000 for each performance infringed, totaling millions in potential damages.
These examples demonstrate courts’ willingness to punish unapproved commercial-scale concert streaming. But penalties still exist even for well-meaning personal social shares that overstep bounds. Respect rights holders.
Policies of major social platforms
The major social media platforms also implement their own rules around live streaming music events beyond just copyright law:
Facebook prohibits unauthorized content in live streams and requires rights holders’ permission for posting recorded music. Their Rights Manager tool lets brands and creators block material.
YouTube
YouTube has strong restrictions on unauthorized full concert uploads and live streams. Their technology automatically detects and flags infringing material for removal.
Twitch
Twitch’s content guidelines expressly forbid unlicensed broadcasting of live music due to copyright. Their repeat copyright infringement policy can result in channel termination.
TikTok
TikTok removes unauthorized concert streams and live performances when identified and notified. Their community guidelines prohibit infringing use of others’ content.
Instagram discourages unauthorized live music streaming and relies on post-publication takedown processes to enforce guidelines against infringing content.
Don’t assume anything you can technically stream will avoid enforcement. All major platforms restrict concert live streaming to align with copyright law and rights holder permissions.
Technological protections at venues
Beyond social media policies, many modern venues also utilize technology to detect and restrict unauthorized streaming:
– Geofencing limits certain app functionality like recording or live streaming when inside specific GPS zones like a concert arena.
– Encryption can scramble audio or video signals to prevent usable capture without an authorized decryption key.
– Watermarking visibly labels video feeds to trace unauthorized streams back to the source user for enforcement.
– Near frequency communication (NFC) or codes can send messages to phones detected in restricted areas temporarily disabling functions.
– Wifi network rules may block streaming domains or throttle speeds for detected concert uploads slowing broadcasting.
– Algorithmic content monitoring by platforms analyzes live video frames to fingerprint protected music and flag policy violations.
So even if you try to live stream under the radar, improved automated detection provides venues and platforms more ways to catch infringing broadcasts in real time. Respect the rules.
Bottom line on live streaming concerts
The bottom line when considering Facebook Live or other streams from concerts:
– Don’t assume it’s permitted. Carefully check official event rules and artist policies first.
– Limit any casual sharing to very brief clips mainly capturing the experience rather than performances.
– Never live stream whole songs, sets or shows without direct permission from the act and organizers.
– Avoid disruptive filming behavior that detracts from those around you enjoying the event.
– If you do get permission, handle live broadcasts responsibly and respectfully for everyone involved.
Concerts should be mostly enjoyed in the moment as intended. Light social sharing can enhance connecting with other fans, but focus on the show itself. Immersive experiences make live music so special.
Conclusion
Live streaming concerts on social media is tempting but rife with legal risks if done without authorization. While restrictions may seem overly cautious, they exist to protect stakeholders’ rights and prevent unauthorized commercial exploitation of creative works. There are limited fair use exceptions allowing brief personal social shares. But the safest approach for average fans is to keep broadcasts limited, check for permissions, and focus on fully experiencing live events. With some mindfulness and respect, social media can be used judiciously to augment concerts without detracting from the magic happening on stage.