In the past, Facebook allowed users to add personalized music to their profiles through features like Music Stories and Embedded Songs. However, Facebook removed these options in 2013 due to licensing restrictions and other issues. Since then, users have been unable to customize their profiles with music.
Music Features Facebook Used to Allow
Up until 2013, Facebook offered profile music customization through a few different features:
- Music Stories – Allowed users to add a song that would play whenever someone visited their profile
- Embedded Songs – Let users add a song preview that would play when clicked
- Spotify Integration – Gave users the ability to show recently played Spotify songs
For a time, these features made Facebook profiles more dynamic and personalized. Many users enjoyed being able to express themselves by showcasing their favorite artists and songs.
Why Facebook Discontinued Music Customization
In 2013, Facebook began phasing out music customization options for user profiles. There were a few key reasons behind this decision:
- Licensing restrictions – Facebook likely did not have broad enough music licensing agreements to make the features viable long-term.
- User engagement – The profile music features may not have been driving high enough engagement and ad revenue.
- Shift in strategy – Facebook began focusing more onTimeline for profiles rather than customizable modules.
- Feature bloat – Too many profile options can make the experience confusing and cluttered.
Discontinuing music customization helped Facebook simplify the profile experience while avoiding licensing headaches. The move aligned with their broader strategy at the time.
Why Hasn’t Facebook Reintroduced Music Customization?
Since removing music features in 2013, Facebook has not reintroduced the ability to customize profiles with songs or artists. There are several reasons why music customization likely remains off the table:
- Shift to mobile – Facebook usage is now heavily mobile-focused, making in-depth profile customization less important.
- Ad strategy – Music features don’t fit with Facebook’s current advertising-focused business model.
- Licensing costs – Renegotiating licenses for profile music would be expensive and time-consuming.
- Spotify partnership – Facebook may not want to compete with their partner Spotify’s music streaming platform.
With over 2 billion monthly active users, Facebook likely sees greater potential in enhancing its core news feed experience rather than reviving niche profile customization options.
Current Options for Music and Profiles
While fully customizable music integration is no longer possible, users do have a few options for showcasing their musical preferences on their Facebook profiles:
- Favorite Music – The About section allows listing favorite bands/artists.
- Posts and Stories – Share song previews, music videos, concert photos, album reviews, etc via news feed posts and Stories.
- Profile/Cover Photos – Use a meaningful band or music image as your profile or cover photo.
Users can also link their Spotify account to share listening activity (but not via customizable profile integration).
While not as immersive as the old Music Stories and Embedded Songs, these current options allow displaying musical preferences and history, albeit in a more limited and standard feed-focused way.
Could Customizable Music Return in the Future?
Looking ahead, it seems unlikely that Facebook will completely resurrect past profile music features. However, there are a few ways music customization could partially return:
- More Spotify and music streaming integration in feeds and Stories.
- Music-themed profile frames/filters for special events or holidays.
- Option to add music clips to “About” video intro sections.
Facebook will likely explore introducing music in ways that benefit the broader experience while avoiding costly licenses around customizable profile integration. More passive sharing of music activity remains the safest approach under their current model.
Conclusion
Music undoubtedly created more personalized and engaging profiles during Facebook’s early days. However, due to shifting company priorities and industry trends, Facebook has moved away from niche customization features like profile music integration. Renegotiating complex music licensing deals simply isn’t worth the costs and effort given Facebook’s current advertising-focused model.
While the social media landscape has changed, users still crave self-expression through music. Facebook now channels this demand via standard feed sharing and partnerships with streaming platforms like Spotify.
Unless licensing issues, company priorities, and industry dynamics significantly change, stand-alone music customization options are unlikely to return. Mobile convenience, passive sharing, and community interaction are now the name of the game.