Latest news with #Udio
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Major Labels in Talks to License AI Use of Music, Report Says
Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, and Sony Music Group are reportedly in talks with artificial intelligence startups over AI use of their music. The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg said the negotiations are with Suno and Udio, which are being sued for copyright infringement. The Journal explained that an agreement could set a precedent for how AI music is Music Group (WMG) shares fell on word the big music distributor was one of three firms negotiating with artificial intelligence (AI) startups to monetize AI use of its music catalog. The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg reported that Warner Music, along with Universal Music Group and Sony Group Corp. (SONY) unit Sony Music Group, are discussing licensing deals with Suno and Udio to receive compensation when music by artists they represent is used to train generative AI models and produces new music. The Journal said that the music companies want the AI firms to develop fingerprinting and attribution technology that will track when and how a song is used. Plus, they want to be able to actively participate in the products Suno and Udio release, which includes which songs are developed and how they work. The Journal noted both Suno and Udio, which are being sued for copyright infringement, have argued that they aren't infringing on the music companies' business. However, it added because of "a more uncertain regulatory environment and investor pressure to develop commercial frameworks for the use of music in generative AI products," both firms are eager to come to an agreement. The paper explained that a deal could set a precedent for how songs are used and artists paid for AI-generated remixes. Shares of Warner Music Group, which represents artists including Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, and Dua Lipa, dipped to their lowest level in two years. Read the original article on Investopedia Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Music majors weigh AI licensing deals with generative startups, WSJ reports
-- Music industry heavyweights are in advanced talks with artificial intelligence startups over licensing agreements that could reshape how artists are paid when their songs are used in AI-generated content. Universal Music Group NV (AS:UMG), Warner Music Group (NASDAQ:WMG), and Sony (NYSE:SONY) Music Group are each negotiating separately with Suno and Udio, two emerging AI platforms that use existing music catalogs to train generative models, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter. The discussions mark a pivotal attempt to build stability around music's intersection with artificial intelligence amid mounting regulatory uncertainty. With lawmakers scrutinizing AI's use of copyrighted content, record labels and startups are under pressure from investors to craft commercial frameworks that ensure legal compliance while preserving relationships with creators. Central to the talks is a demand from the music companies for attribution and fingerprinting systems akin to YouTube's content ID technology. Such infrastructure would allow for the accurate tracking of source material in AI-created songs, helping to quantify usage and ensure compensation flows to rights holders. In addition to financial remuneration, the labels are seeking broader control over how generative music tools are developed and used. This could involve input over product design and features, signaling a desire for music executives to play a more active role in shaping the emerging AI-driven music ecosystem. While the negotiations are progressing, a key obstacle is establishing compensation models that would scale across entire catalogs and still appeal to musicians wary of AI dilution. Some artists have voiced concerns around how their work may be used without adequate oversight or approval. To address resistance among performers, the proposed deals include opt-out provisions that would enable individual artists to exclude their catalogs from specific applications. Moreover, the settlements could resolve ongoing lawsuits accusing the startups of using music without permission and may involve the music companies acquiring equity stakes in the AI firms. The outcomes of these talks are likely to set critical precedents for intellectual property use in generative AI across the entertainment sector. As the race to define ethical and commercial norms in this space accelerates, consensus between legacy rights holders and disruptive tech firms could chart a pathway for broader adoption. Related articles Music majors weigh AI licensing deals with generative startups, WSJ reports TSX closes higher, remains resilient despite trade tensions Snowflake expands AI capabilities with $250 million Crunchy Data deal - WSJ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Wall Street Journal
2 days ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Universal, Warner and Sony Are Negotiating AI Licensing Rights for Music
Major music companies are negotiating licensing deals with two startups that could set a new precedent for how songs are used and artists are paid for remixes generated by artificial intelligence. Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group WMG -1.33%decrease; red down pointing triangle and Sony Music Group want to be compensated by startups Suno and Udio when music by artists they represent is used to train generative AI models and produce new music, according to people familiar with the talks.

Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Major record labels are reportedly in licensing talks with AI firms Udio and Suno
Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music Entertainment are in talks to license their work to AI startups Udio and Suno, according to a new report from Bloomberg. The deals would set forth a framework for how AI companies compensate artists for their work. The record labels are pushing to receive a small amount of equity in Suno and Udio. Udio and Suno allow aspiring music artists to receive an audio recording via prompts that describe sounds or songs, such as "a modern country ballad about unrequited love." Any deal would help to settle lawsuits between the music companies and AI startups. The labels sued Udio and Suno last year for copyright infringement. Both sides are in talks to see if they can agree on terms, as opposed to continuing legal fights. The music companies are pushing to get more control of the use of their work, while the AI startups want flexibility to experiment, the report notes. This article originally appeared on TechCrunch at Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Record labels in talks to license music to AI firms Udio, Suno
The major music companies sued Udio and Suno last year accusing them of copyright infringement. The Recording Industry Association of America, a trade group for record labels, sought as much as $150,000 per work infringed, which could total billions of dollars. Advertisement The music companies and the AI startups are talking to see if they can agree on terms rather than continue to fight in court. The negotiations are happening in parallel, creating a race of sorts to see which AI company and label will strike a deal first. The talks are complicated because the labels are pushing for greater control over the use of their work, while Udio and Suno are seeking flexibility to experiment and want deals at a price reasonable for startup companies. Advertisement Udio and Suno didn't respond to requests for comment. The three music companies declined to comment. Udio got $10 million last year from a group of investors that included venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, while Suno raised $125 million in a round that included Lightspeed Venture Partners. AI companies have battled major media companies over whether they need to pay to train their large language models on copyrighted work. They've argued that the training is covered under fair use, while rights holders say they must be compensated. The New York Times Co. sued OpenAI, which has struck licensing deals with companies such as News Corp., the Associated Press and Vox Media. The music industry has wrestled with how best to respond to the rise of AI technology. Industry sales have grown over the last decade, but have yet to fully recover from the damage wrought in the early days of the internet, when file sharing sites and piracy decimated sales. Record companies have battled every new technology, from file-sharing to user-generated content to streaming. But streaming services such as Spotify Technology SA have helped revive the industry. The industry has expressed a desire to protect its copyrights while also leaning into new technology. 'The music community has embraced AI, and we are already partnering and collaborating with responsible developers to build sustainable AI tools centered on human creativity that put artists and songwriters in charge,' Mitch Glazier, chief executive officer of the RIAA, said when it filed the suit. 'But we can only succeed if developers are willing to work together with us.' Advertisement With assistance from Rachel Metz.