OPINION: Why Are Songs in Facebook and Instagram’s Music Libraries Still Triggering Claims?

Over the last year, The Zebra Press has received and accepted changes on more than 75 older Facebook and Instagram videos because music rights holders are now claiming earnings on those posts.

Many of these videos date back years. In a notice this morning, we were informed that earnings from one older Reel would be claimed by music rights holders in 173 territories around the world.

The music wasn’t uploaded by us from an outside source. In many cases, it was music we selected directly from the libraries Facebook and Instagram made available when we created the Reels.

That raises an obvious question: Why are songs included in Meta’s music libraries if they can later result in earnings claims or monetization restrictions?

The answer appears to be that the music libraries are designed primarily to allow creators to use songs in videos, but not necessarily to guarantee that every video using that music will remain monetizable forever. Licensing agreements between Meta and music rights holders can vary by country, by type of account, and over time. Rights holders may also choose to claim revenue from videos that use their music, even if the song was available in the platform’s library when the content was created.

In other words, access to music and ownership of monetization rights are not always the same thing.

That distinction is not always obvious to creators.

Before writing this column, we looked for answers.

Meta’s Help Center explains music licensing, monetization, and rights management in general terms. The company has publicly stated that music rights holders may claim revenue from videos that use copyrighted music and that licensing agreements can vary by territory and over time.

But despite reading the guidance available to creators, we could not find a simple public explanation that clearly tells creators whether music available in Facebook and Instagram’s own libraries will remain monetization-safe years into the future.

That uncertainty leads to another common question: Can creators license music themselves for short videos?

The answer is yes—but it depends on how the video will be used.

For businesses, publishers, and creators who want greater certainty, there are commercial music licensing services that provide music specifically for social media videos and Reels. Companies such as Epidemic Sound, Artlist, Soundstripe, and others offer subscription plans that generally range from about $10 to $50 per month for individual creators, with higher-priced commercial or business plans available for organizations and publishers.

The process is usually straightforward: creators subscribe to a service, download approved music, connect their social media accounts if required, and use the tracks according to the license terms. As long as the subscription and usage comply with the agreement, creators generally have stronger protection against copyright claims than they would using music with uncertain monetization rights.

Of course, no licensing system is perfect, and creators should always read the terms carefully.

We’re certainly not arguing that artists shouldn’t be paid. Of course they should. Musicians, songwriters, and rights holders deserve to be compensated for their work.

But creators deserve clarity, too.

If certain songs are not eligible for monetization, tell creators clearly before they publish.

If licensing agreements change over time, explain what changed.

And if earnings may someday be redirected to rights holders years after a video is posted, perhaps creators deserve to know that before investing hours creating content around that music.

We’re not angry.

We’re curious.

And we’re asking a simple question:

Have you experienced this, too?

If you’ve received similar notices on Facebook or Instagram—or if you’ve found a reliable way to license music for short videos—we’d love to hear about your experience.

Because sometimes the best journalism starts with a simple question.

And maybe the answer will help all of us understand the rules a little better.