AIMCO hosts live event on music rights in influencer marketing

AIMCO partnered with BlackBay Lawyers for a live members’ event in Sydney, unpacking the legalities, risks and best practices around music usage on social media.

The announcement:

The Australian Influencer Marketing Council (AiMCO) has hosted a live members’ event, partnering with BlackBay Lawyers to explore the complexities of online music usage.

Nearly 60 AiMCO members gathered at BlackBay Lawyers’ Sydney office for the “Music Rights on Social Media” live event on Thursday, 18 September, where several leading industry voices unpacked the legalities and guidelines around music rights and infringement in influencer marketing.

The event was moderated by BlackBay Lawyers senior associate, Isabella Orlic, and featured expert legal and music industry panellists, including BlackBay Lawyers managing partner, Victoria-Jane Otavski, Mushroom Group creative sync manager, Wesley Chapman, and Hello managing director and partner, Sam Kelly.

The panel examined all aspects of music rights and social media, including the basics of music rights and infringement, how creators can infringe on copyright, licensing and platform music libraries, and how to maintain licensing integrity and industry best practice.

All attendees received an exclusive music fact sheet, prepared by BlackBay Lawyers, designed to help navigate the challenging space with confidence.

Orlic said: “Music rights are often an issue for influencers because the commercial use of copyrighted music requires specific licences, which can be expensive and time-consuming to obtain. Failure to secure these licenses exposes influencers and brands to inadvertent copyright infringement claims and breach of platform terms.

“This panel discussion was a chance for our experts to offer practical guidance for creators, influencers and agencies around navigating the legalities of using music in influencer marketing. There are a lot of misconceptions around music usage, particularly around how music can be used in ads or paid partnership posts. It is a highly complex area – that’s why events like these are so important for the industry; they’re all about encouraging creators and marketers to stay ahead of the curve, protect their content from legal issues and keep up-to-date on the latest music regulations in Australia influencer marketing.”

AiMCO managing director, Patrick Whitnall, said: “The use of music on social media is one of the most misunderstood and high-risk areas for brands, creators and agencies, and an issue that our members have been asking for clarity on. This panel was an opportunity to bring together experts to share practical insights and recommendations, and provide a vital perspective on licensing, risks and opportunities.

“We were incredibly lucky to have some of the nation’s top legal and music industry minds on hand to cover the full spectrum of issues around music rights on social media. Isabella and Victoria-Jane shared their legal expertise, helping to uncomplicate the law governing online music use, while Wes and Sam brought their creative and practical knowledge to the challenges of using music in content. I’m certain all our members walked away with a clearer picture of how to use music in their campaigns, and how they can continue to successfully navigate this space.”

Orlic is a senior associate at BlackBay Lawyers, specialising in defamation, media, commercial, regulatory and employment law. Her practice is focused on assisting clients in the social media, marketing and creative sectors, navigating complex legal challenges unique to these industries.

Otavski is a highly esteemed litigator, with more than 20 years’ experience in commercial, employment, defamation and regulatory law. Recognised as one of Australia’s leading litigation partners, she was this year named Lawyer of the Year for defamation and media law by Best Lawyers Australia. Her extensive experience representing high-profile clients has established her as a leading authority in resolving
complex, multi-faceted legal disputes.

Chapman specialises in music publishing, licensing and creative supervision for film, television, advertising and digital platforms. With experience at Universal Music Publishing Group, Divergence Trailer Music, and Audio Network, Chapman has collaborated with leading studios and brands to deliver innovative music solutions for global campaigns.

Kelly is the CEO and partner of integrated marketing agency, Hello, where he leads a multidisciplinary team across strategy, creative, production, media, PR, technology, shred services, marketing, sales and operations. Kelly is an award-winning marketer and entrepreneur known for driving commercial value across a broad range of industries.

Source: Third Avenue Consulting