With so many singers and musicians being unable to perform to a live audience since the COVID-19 pandemic took over the country, many resorted to creating livestreams online to showcase their music to their fans. Well, starting from October 1st, restrictions on social network platform Facebook will be taking place to stop this. As a direct consequence, artists will be forced into looking for other streaming alternatives, as Facebook will now be preventing livestreams unless ‘there is no music’.

With the pandemic hitting the live music scene since the beginning of the year, music artists found livestreams a great alternative to music shows and the perfect way to promote their music; with Facebook and YouTube being the preferred streaming tools. However, issues with music licenses and permissions to play certain tracks have resulted in these new restrictions. One of the newest guidelines by Facebook reads:

‘You may not use videos on our Products to create a music listening experience … If you use videos on our Products to create a music listening experience for yourself or for others, your videos will be blocked and your page, profile or group may be deleted. This includes Live.’

Although, YouTube remains the number one platform for many, these new Facebook restrictions on livestreams are indeed frustrating news, especially for up and coming artists who were looking to make a name for themselves in the music scene before the pandemic. There are other good alternative streaming platforms out there, but these have much less visibility. YouTube aside, Twitch and Mixcloud Live (paid subscription) might be good alternatives, nevertheless, the clear con is that neither of them have the power and reach that Facebook has.

It’s back to the drawing board again!

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