Photo Credit: Jonathan Kemper
ByteDance has chosen HFA’s Rumblefish—owned by SESAC—to handle data, licensing, and royalty management services to ByteDance in support of TikTok and CapCut.
TikTok is a social media platform that highly popularized the short-form video format, while CapCut is the program most content creators use to edit videos for most short-form video services. CapCut is used by content creators on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts for its ease in mobile video editing and the ability to add various effects, filters, and music.
To support the use of music in ByteDance’s products, Rumblefish will utilize its full suite of rights management services, offering publishers the opportunity for direct licensing, linking sound recording-to-composition data, processing usage data, and providing royalty calculation, distribution, copyright research, and publisher support. These services are backed by HFA’s advanced technology, trusted industry relationships, and over 90 years of music rights expertise.
HFA’s Rumblefish continues to solve complex music rights challenges, transforming the impossible into standard practice so that clients can focus on their core business of engaging with music fans.
The music industry has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the royalty deals it has negotiated with TikTok, citing concerns over low payouts and inadequate compensation for the extensive use of music on the platform. Rumblefish could help alleviate the situation since it specializes in micro-licensing and online video monetization, making it easier for platforms like TikTok to legally clear music for its user-generated content.
Their technology and database can automate and simplify the process of licensing music while still ensuring rights holders are compensated. Rumblefish already works with platforms including YouTube and Facebook, proving its ability to manage large catalogs and high volumes of content. It also has a strong track record of working with independent artists and publishers, providing them with access to licensing opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
“We are thrilled to offer the music publishing community the opportunity to license to both TikTok and CapCut,” says Lauren Apolito, EVP of Strategy and Business Development of HFA’s Rumblefish. “With our unparalleled reach to the publishing market and our robust and scalable infrastructure, HFA’s Rumblefish is uniquely positioned to handle the massive scale of ByteDance’s licensing and data processing needs across two of its key product offerings on a global basis.”
“At SESAC Music Group, we’re working to leverage our global tech and data platform to assist innovative hyperscalers like ByteDance to utilize music by obtaining authoritization directly from songwriters and music publishers,” adds John Josephson, Chairman & CEO of SESAC Music Group. “With our best-in-class licensing, data, and royalty administration capabilities, we help drive new sources of revenue for songwriters and music publishers by enabling platforms like TikTok and CapCut to create meaningful user experiences.”
“ByteDance is committed to making it simple for users to discover, create, and share content powered by music,” adds Jordan Lowy, Global Head of Music Publishing Licensing & Partnerships at ByteDance. “We are looking forward to working with HFA’s Rumblefish to help streamline global music rights administration and to ensure seamless and timely remuneration for rights holders on the platform.”
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This post was originally authored and published by Ashley King Digital Music News via RSS Feed. Join today to get your news feed on Nationwide Report®.
