In a surprising twist, Meta, the parent company of social media powerhouse Facebook, has recently made a bold decision to lay off Perry Bashkoff, the Director of Music Partnerships at Instagram. This unexpected move has left the industry buzzing with speculation about the future of music on the platform and Meta's evolving strategies. Perry, who assumed the role of Director of Music Partnerships in October 2019, took to LinkedIn to share the news with his followers, raising eyebrows and fueling discussions about the implications of this departure. He shared: 

#METALAYOFFS

Yes, I was one of them. I've been fortunate enough to have a career spanning over 25 years without any breaks. The past five years were spent at Instagram/Meta, where I had the incredible opportunity to bring music to the masses, build tools, support artists, forge relationships, and experience some of the most enjoyable moments in my professional life. While this isn't the update I expected or desired to share, taking a brief pause right now seems... intriguing.

MOTIVATION

I'm grateful to have been part of the team that brought music to the Meta platforms. From the early days of convincing skeptics to the thrill of collaborating directly with artists and their teams, ensuring they make the most of music on our platforms—witnessing songs go viral, artists reach significant milestones, and exploring innovative ways to utilize our tools has been incredibly motivating. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to everyone for the insightful conversations, valuable lessons, receptive listening, continuous encouragement, and endless experimentation we embarked on together. We truly made magic happen during my tenure here.

TINA TURNER

Rest in peace.

WHAT'S NEXT?

It's a work in progress. I'll be taking a moment to wrap up the school year, spend quality time with my family, and take a deep breath during the summer. Then, I'll be contemplating the next chapter of my journey. I welcome any suggestions—seriously, I'm always up for a new challenge.

Meta's bold move and the departure of Perry Bashkoff will undoubtedly shape the landscape of music integration on Instagram and leave a lasting impact on the platform's millions of users and the wider music community.
Image source: Linkedin
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