NMPA AND ROBLOX STRIKE INDUSTRY-WIDE AGREEMENT
Lawsuit Dismissed and Plan Set to Expand Music in the Metaverse
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 27, 2021 – The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) and Roblox (NYSE:RBLX) today announced an agreement that settles any previous claims against Roblox and sets the foundation for future partnerships with global publishers that will unlock new creative and commercial opportunities on its platform.
It settles claims filed by NMPA members, offers an industry-wide opt-in open to all eligible NMPA publishers and opens a negotiation period for members to engage individually in new go-forward licensing deals with the Roblox global platform that brings millions of people together through shared experiences.
The agreement expands Roblox’s existing relationships with major publishers to the entire publishing industry. Roblox will work closely with the global music publishing industry to help them unlock new ways for music to be more meaningfully integrated into the global Roblox community of more than 48 million daily active users. The deal paves the way for innovative partnerships between Roblox and publishers that will offer songwriters new ways to monetize their songs and catalogues.
NMPA President & CEO David Israelite commented on the agreement saying, “We are extremely pleased to have found a way forward with Roblox as it continues to offer a unique platform for musicians and songwriters in the metaverse. Roblox understands that music has the potential to play a more integral role on its platform. I appreciate Roblox’s willingness to work with us in pursuit of advancing the interests of publishers and songwriters and look forward to seeing how they expand virtual experiences through music.”
Roblox Vice President, Global Head of Music Jon Vlassopulos added, “We are delighted to have come to terms with select NMPA members, building on our existing relationships with major publishers. We are pleased that the publishing industry sees the potential of Roblox to be a significant creative and commercial opportunity for its members. Music is a natural way for people to express themselves, be entertained, and connect with likeminded people. We strive to offer experiences that bring millions of fans together with the songwriters and artists they love. Roblox currently enables labels and publishers to reach millions of fans at once in hyper social, immersive environments such as launch parties and virtual concerts. Moving forward, we are committed to partnering with the music industry, as a whole, to create an exciting new social era of the music business which engages fans and artists in an unprecedented way in the metaverse.”
People around the world spend billions of hours on Roblox, creating a unique opportunity for a new generation of music fans to discover, share, and get closer to the music and artists they love. For songwriters, publishers, artists, and record labels, Roblox provides a creative way to engage and attract millions of fans as well as drive new revenue streams through virtual launch parties and concerts, music in games, persistent music worlds, and virtual merchandise.
About Roblox:
Roblox’s (NYSE: RBLX) mission is to build a human co-experience platform that enables shared experiences among billions of users. Every day, tens of millions of people around the world have fun with friends as they explore millions of immersive digital experiences. All of these experiences are built by the Roblox community, made up of over eight million creators. We believe in building a safe, civil, and diverse community—one that inspires and fosters creativity and positive relationships between people around the world. For more information, please visit corp.roblox.com.
About NMPA:
Founded in 1917, the National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) is the trade association representing all American music publishers and their songwriting partners. The NMPA's mandate is to protect and advance the interests of music publishers and songwriters in matters relating to the domestic and global protection of music copyrights. Learn more at nmpa.org.
Contacts
Roblox Corporation
Desiree Fish
dfish@roblox.com
NMPA
Charlotte Sellmyer
CSellmyer@nmpa.org