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As UGC lawsuits rage, Epidemic Sound offers a strikingly different licensing approach. As UGC lawsuits rage, Epidemic Sound offers a strikingly different licensing approach paul resnikoff august 20, 2026. Shake a stick in this business, and you'll quickly find a contentious lawsuit involving social media music licensing. Great for the lawyers, as they say, but is there a better way? Sadly, that's a critical question for a growing number of major brands. Currently, the music industry is mired in multiple legal licensing battles over social media campaigns on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and other social media platforms, with mega-brands like Crumbl Cookies, Marriott, Chili's, DSW, and even the University of Southern California (USC) among the defendants. And that doesn't include the separate migraines of copyright strikes, demonetization, or territorial licensing restrictions that can disrupt a campaign midstream (usually at around 4 am local time). It's a big problem, though serious solutions exist for brands that want to sidestep tricky litigation surrounding high-priced IP. That includes Stockholm-headquartered Epidemic Sound, which has been attracting some serious clientele with its fully licensed solution. The company caters to mega-brands like Nissan, Squarespace, New Balance, Levi's, GoPro, and the NFL Players Association, as well as creators of all shapes and sizes. Just recently, Epidemic Sound partnered with DMN to expand its growing footprint. The pitch for all of these companies and creators is simple. Instead of complex licensing rules and compliance pitfalls, Epidemic Sound is winning over big brands and agencies with a secure, pre-licensed solution free of copyright issues. Suddenly, the clearance matrix, which includes recordings, compositions, public performances, separate territories, and complicated timeframes, is eliminated, drastically reducing setup time and risk before the campaign. "Brands tell us the same thing firsthand: rights holder fragmentation makes sourcing music at scale near-impossible without real legal exposure," Epidemic Sound VP and Head of Commercial Legal Emil Henriksson told DMN. "Our latest survey puts numbers to it: 95% of brands say licensing complexity slows production, and nearly 8 in 10 have felt it through added costs, takedowns, and lost campaigns. The same three issues come up every time: rights holder fragmentation and licensing complexity, material liability exposure, and near-zero visibility into their own music use." Interestingly, Epidemic Sound is also helping companies assess their risk levels ahead of big branding campaigns. "Alongside our core offering, we've also launched Soundproof to finally give brands a clear picture of where their risk sits and the infrastructure to act on it," Henriksson continued. There's also the critical issue of turnaround time. Back in the Mad Men era, advertising agencies had more time to develop campaigns and distribute them. And music was often a commissioned jingle. These days, iterations are rapid, deadlines are tight, and responses come fast, especially on social media. That makes clearances and copyright issues unworkable, especially if they threaten to derail a fast-paced campaign. Directly-licensed or commissioned works, by contrast, eliminate those vulnerabilities. Problem solved, though Epidemic Sound wants to upend the rules around directly-licensed content. And that goes for all types of music, including custom-created content from established artists and producers. Indeed, Epidemic Sound offers a fairly exhaustive selection of music, including tracks designed to meet a range of sync objectives. That includes tracks designed to grab attention, more subtly heighten emotion, or simply frame the background atmosphere. And when it comes to higher-profile music, combining risk-free direct licensing with major artist heft has typically been difficult, expensive, or both. Advertising and sync execs understand this reality, though making that combination possible is at the root of Epidemic Sound's market shakeup. Flipping the negotiation table, and part of the lure for sought-after artists and producers is scale. On that note, Epidemic Sound also possesses significant distribution power for artists, with roughly 3.5 billion views a day across YouTube and TikTok alone. According to Epidemic Sound, 70% of the top 300 US YouTube channels use Epidemic Sound. That's quite a market validation, and stats like those make it easier for the company to bring top artists into their network. For brands and creators, Epidemic Sound offers a subscription service and access to a vast, pre-licensed catalog of more than 55,000 songs and 250,000 sound effects, fully licensed for global use in perpetuity. That's a big part of Epidemic Sound's model, though enterprise-level clients can also receive strategic guidance on leveraging music and sound to reinforce their brand identity through music supervision and sonic branding services. Of course, some options will always need to be negotiated directly. If you want to license a specific track from the Rolling Stones or The Weeknd, for example, have fun with that negotiation. Major labels and IP owners are often ready to license, but price tags can be astronomical, and clearance considerations exhausting. It's not everyone's idea of a good time, and outside of the mega-hits, Epidemic Sound is filling the market void with a deep selection of genres and artists, fully licensed and forever cleared. After a slug of litigation, brands are undoubtedly being more careful with celebrity artists and high-profile tracks. But Epidemic Sound insists there's a better approach that prioritizes secure licensing and great music - all while allowing companies to truly focus on brand-building and long-term customer connections.

Luxury Group by Marriott International presents "The Liquid City", Celebrating Destination culture through cocktail craft across Greater China. 21/08/2026 Celebrating the Spirit, Flavors, and Rich Heritage of Each Destination, the Latest Chapter of "The Culinary Atelier" Unveils A Multi-City Bar Takeover Series Featuring World-class Mixologists Across Six Cities and Ten Luxury Hotels SHANGHAI, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Luxury Group by Marriott International has announced the launch of "The Liquid City" - the latest chapter of its celebrated "The Culinary Atelier" series. Designed to redefine fine drinking experiences across Greater China, this immersive mixology journey brings together three globally acclaimed mixologists from Asia's 50 Best Bars to foster creative collaboration and craft mastery. "The Liquid City" invites travelers and cocktail enthusiasts to discover the distinct soul, cultural heritage, and native flavors of iconic destinations through the art of fine mixology. From the nostalgia of Hong Kong's tea culture to Shanghai's golden era of glamour and the poetic elegance of Suzhou to Macao's rich Euro-Asian heritage, each cocktail serves as a liquid tribute to regional identity. L-R: Amanda Wan (Hong Kong), Hwi Yun (Seoul), Alvin Sung Jaya (Jakarta) "At Luxury Group, we expect to establish our bars as global destinations for cocktail culture and refined hospitality," said Bart Buiring, Managing Director, Luxury, Greater China, Marriott International. "'The Liquid City' is a celebration of craftsmanship, cultural storytelling, and culinary innovation. By bringing together world-class mixology icons with our exceptional hotel talent, we are proud to offer our guests an unforgettable sensory journey." An Elite Lineup of Master Mixologists Central to "The Liquid City" experience is an extraordinary lineup of international talent, each bringing a distinct philosophy to the collaborative menus. The series features: * Amanda Wan (Hong Kong): A celebrated bartender at The Opposites, recognized for her precise flavor architecture and her ability to turn each cocktail into an artful creation. * Hwi Yun (Seoul): Master of cultural storytelling from Bar Cham (ranked No. 33 on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026). * Alvin Sung Jaya & Anthony Luis (Jakarta): Alvin is an innovative tastemaker from Carrots (ranked No. 21 on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026), known for contemporary and culinary-driven cocktails; his creative partner, Anthony, is also an award-winning mixologist whose deep appreciation of classic cocktails and Chinese gastronomy lends additional depth to the duo's creations. Working together with Luxury Group's resident bartenders, these guest masters will co-create bespoke bar menus that bridge global perspectives with authentic regional flavors. Curated Cocktails & Elevated Culinary Pairings At each host venue, guests will experience a curated collection of four bespoke cocktails: three signature creations from the guest mixologist's home bar, plus a unique city special crafted with locally sourced ingredients. Highlights include "Pillow Confessions," inspired by Macau's iconic Portuguese egg tart and served at The St. Regis Bar at The St. Regis Macao, which was recognized among Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026; "Night Silk," a coffee- and fig-infused brandy cocktail crafted at The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong; and "Bubble Trouble," an egg waffle-inspired brandy cocktail presented at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. L-R: "Pillow Confessions" by Amanda Wan (Hong Kong), "Night Silk" by Hwi Yun (Seoul), and "Bubble Trouble" by Alvin Sung Jaya (Jakarta) To elevate the guest drinking experience, the culinary teams at participating hotels have crafted up to three exclusive bar-bite pairings. Highlights include Handmade Ningbo Rice Cake and Red Osmanthus at W Shanghai - The Bund, Shanghai River Shrimp with Garlic and Soy Cucumber at The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, and Yukhwe, raw beef seasoned with perilla, egg yolk, and kimchi at The St. Regis Hong Kong. Following the live guest shifts, these curated menus will remain available at participating hotel bars for a limited-time showcase. Tour Itinerary & Grand Finale The multi-city takeover commences on August 19 with Amanda Wan hosting a guest shift at Liquid at W Shanghai - The Bund, and with Hwi Yun taking over The St. Regis Bar at The St. Regis Hong Kong on August 21. From August 22 to 28, the series moves across South and East China as the three talents pop up at Sky Bar at The Sanya EDITION, OZONE at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, Blind Tiger at W Macau - Studio City, WOOBAR at W Suzhou, FLAIR at The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, as well as The St. Regis Bars at The St. Regis Macao and The St. Regis Shenzhen Bao'an. The campaign will culminate in a grand finale on August 29 and 30 at The Shanghai EDITION, where all three master mixologists will unite for an exclusive weekend takeover across three distinct bar venues and a special showcase at the hotel's acclaimed YONE Brunch. Beyond "The Liquid City," Luxury Group by Marriott International remains dedicated to sparking new inspirations through immersive dining and drinking journeys, inviting guests to explore dynamic destinations through extraordinary flavors and memorable experiences. About Luxury Group by Marriott International With an unrivaled portfolio of dynamic luxury brands, Marriott International is creating authentic, rare, and enriching experiences sought by today's global luxurian. Spanning all corners of the world, Marriott International's Luxury Group offers a boundless network of more than 565 landmark hotels, resorts, and yachts in over 70 countries and territories through The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, EDITION, The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, and W Hotels. From the world's most iconic destinations to the ultimate undiscovered gems, the international hospitality leader's collection of luxury brands is focused on elevating travel with highly contextualized, nuanced brand experiences that signal the future of luxury by allowing guests to indulge their passions while sparking personal growth. For more information, please visit Luxury.Marriott.com. 02/07/2026 18/08/2014 13/05/2026 27/04/2026 30/04/2026 Discover more Tech gadget reviews Blog content marketing Communications Equipment