New Job Ad Signals Facebook Is Finally Getting Serious About Music

Facebook is hiring a Director of Global Music Licensing Partnerships. There's already a lot of music on Facebook, but almost none of it – whether via apps for Spotify and others or in uploaded videos – is licensed directly by Facebook. That's about to change, but is it part of a larger music strategy?

A new job ad posted by Facebook for a Director of Global Music Licensing Partnerships signals that Facebook is finally getting serious about music.

Excerpted from the ad:

___________________________________________

Facebook is seeking a Director of Global Music Licensing who is passionate about the changing music ecosystem, technology and supporting our goal of connecting people through social media, the mobile eco-system and business strategy. This role will lead Facebook’s strategy and negotiations with music labels and publishing/performing rights organizations, as well as collaborate with our product and media partnerships teams to ensure a coordinated and best-in-class licensing structure. The position is full-time and based in our main office in Menlo Park.

Responsibilities

Lead music licensing strategy and negotiations with rights holders throughout the world

Work with Facebook product and partnerships teams to ensure a comprehensive music strategy that supports our efforts to make the world more connected on Facebook

Represent Facebook in meetings with music industry executives from other companies globally

Be a source of deep insights about the music ecosystem and partners to our executives

Execute in an intense, fast-paced, and highly iterative environment

________________________________________________

It's unlikely that Facebook wants to launch its own streaming music service. But its does signal that Mark Zuckerberg's stated "video first" strategy will have a music component, and that Facebook understands the need to license music properly.