Snapchat’s Tough Road To Becoming a Music Service

The music labels have had a frustrating relationship with social media over the years. The most-followed accounts on Twitter or Facebook belong to musicians such as Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake, but the music industry has never managed to turn that reach into the meaningful revenue it so desperately needs.

But music companies live in hope. The latest sign: Executives at major labels have taken meetings with Snapchat in recent months, according to two people familiar with the matter.

It’s not known what the meetings were focused on and so far no arrangements have been made about licensing for any Snapchat music service. But Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel has been public about his company’s deep interest in music, saying in one recent interview that music is a medium where Snapchat can offer something “differentiated” as it has with photo and video messaging.