The foremost music firms are reportedly in licensing talks with controversial AI music mills Udio and Suno.
That’s in line with Bloomberg, which reported on Sunday (June 1), citing folks acquainted with the discussions, that Common Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music Leisure are searching for license charges from the platforms plus “a small quantity” of fairness in each Suno and Udio.
The report arrives just below a yr after the majors sued Suno and Udio for copyright infringement.
Sources instructed Bloomberg that any deal would assist settle lawsuits between the startups and the music firms.
The information outlet famous that its sources “declined to be recognized as a result of the talks may collapse”.
Suno and Udio generate music from textual content prompts, permitting customers to request songs and obtain full audio recordings.
In June final yr, the three majors sued the AI startups within the US for allegedly coaching their techniques utilizing the majors’ recordings with out permission – an accusation they just about admitted to in court docket filings final August.
The complaints towards Suno and Udio final yr argued that “AI firms, like all different enterprises, should abide by the legal guidelines that shield human creativity and ingenuity,” and that “There’s nothing that exempts AI expertise from copyright legislation or that excuses AI firms from taking part in by the foundations.”
Each Suno and Udio have beforehand argued that their use of copyrighted supplies falls underneath the “honest use” exemption to US copyright legislation.
Bloomberg factors out the complexity of the reported talks between labels and Udio and Suno.
The music firms need “better management over the usage of their work,” Bloomberg writes, whereas the AI platforms search “flexibility to experiment” in addition to “offers at a value affordable for startup firms”.
Bloomberg mentioned Udio and Suno didn’t reply to requests for remark, whereas the three music majors declined to remark.
Final yr, Suno raised $125 million from buyers together with Lightspeed Enterprise Companions, giving the Massachusetts-headquartered firm an implied worth of $500 million.
Udio, in the meantime, secured $10 million from Andreessen Horowitz and different backers, reflecting investor confidence in AI music technology regardless of the authorized challenges.
The reported licensing talks with Udio and Suno follows licensing agreements struck between ChatGPT developer OpenAI and firms like Information Corp., the Related Press and Vox Media.
Music trade executives have expressed cautious optimism about AI expertise whereas defending copyright protections.
Final yr, when report firms introduced authorized motion towards Suno and Udio, Mitch Glazier, Chief govt officer of the RIAA, mentioned: “The music neighborhood has embraced AI, and we’re already partnering and collaborating with accountable builders to construct sustainable AI instruments centered on human creativity that put artists and songwriters in cost.”
“The music neighborhood has embraced AI, and we’re already partnering and collaborating with accountable builders to construct sustainable AI instruments centered on human creativity that put artists and songwriters in cost.”
Mitch Glazier, RIAA
“However we will solely succeed if builders are keen to work along with us.”
In an evaluation printed by MBW final April, Ed Newton-Rex, founding father of moral AI group Pretty Skilled, recognized similarities between Udio-generated music and works from established artists, together with John Lennon, Natalie Imbruglia, and Coldplay, amongst others.
It adopted Newton-Rex’s investigation into the output of generative AI music platform, Suno, which went viral within the music biz after it was printed on MBW earlier that very same month.
Suno can be going through a copyright infringement in Germany, filed in January 2025 by GEMA, the German assortment society and licensing physique.
Suno’s controversial repute hasn’t stopped it from putting headline-grabbing partnerships. In February, for instance, Amazon unveiled a brand new AI-powered model of its Alexa voice assistant, and among the many capabilities of the “next-generation” Alexa+ is an integration with Suno.
in October, Suno named Timbaland as a strategic advisor.Music Enterprise Worldwide
