Emerging digital exchange spheres highlight tensions between formal copyright regimes and informal exchange norms in transregional digital spaces. The "Big Three" of the K-pop industry—SM, JYP, and YG Entertainment—have utilized informal spaces since the 2000s, prioritizing resonance and reach over immediate profit on platforms like YouTube. This contrasts with Japan's stringent copyright protections, which limited the international influence of its music industry compared to K-pop. Psy’s global success with "Gangnam Style" demonstrated the power of openly available content for further distribution and processing. Parodies, covers, remixes, and reaction videos on platforms like TikTok and YouTube extend this reach.

Similarly, Afrobeats initially thrived through informal channels and copyright circumvention (e.g., from Lagos to cultural centers like Kinshasa). Yet, platforms like TikTok and Instagram now offer legal harmonization, combining decentralized music distribution via user-generated content (UGC) with licensing models. This project examines how suspending copyright impacts distribution and explores licensing fees' role for UGC on social platforms.