Major record labels are escalating enforcement against corporations utilizing “personal use” audio libraries on platforms like TikTok and Instagram for commercial promotion. Legal filings against entities like Marriott and the NBA highlight a systemic misunderstanding of platform terms, with AI monitoring firm Third Chair identifying over 2.4 million potentially infringing commercial posts between 2019 and 2025. The core dispute centers on the distinction between individual user licenses and the strict sync licensing required for brand marketing.
This litigation trend signals the end of the “Wild West” era of social media marketing, where brands relied on the ambiguity of platform interfaces to bypass traditional sync fees. As AI detection tools lower the cost of finding infringement, companies must now integrate rigorous rights management protocols into their social strategies or face significant liability for historical content.
Curated by MusicResearch.com from Billboard Pro. Read the full article at: ‘Like the Wild West’: Why Music Companies Are Cracking Down on Corporate Social Media
