Music industry strikes cautious AI deals despite artist concerns

The music industry faces an existential dilemma as AI-generated songs infiltrate streaming platforms, prompting major labels to sign licensing deals while artists and platforms struggle to define acceptable boundaries. Anna Nicolaou and Cristina Criddle report for the Financial Times. A recent incident in Sweden illustrates the tension. A folk-pop song by “Jacub” topped Spotify charts …

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ElevenLabs releases album with Liza Minnelli and Art Garfunkel created using AI

ElevenLabs has launched “The Eleven Album,” featuring original music from established artists including Liza Minnelli and Art Garfunkel, created in collaboration with the company’s AI music generation system. The project marks one of the first large scale partnerships between artificial intelligence technology and professional musicians, Todd Spangler reports for Variety. The album features tracks across …

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Major creative platforms ban generative AI content

Bandcamp and San Diego Comic-Con have implemented strict policies against generative AI to protect human creators. These decisions follow growing pressure from artists who seek to maintain the value of original work. Both platforms have transitioned from flexible approaches to explicit bans on AI-generated submissions. Bandcamp now prohibits music produced wholly or substantially by AI. …

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Survey: AI music is nearly indistinguishable from human work

A staggering 97 percent of listeners cannot tell the difference between songs composed by humans and those generated by artificial intelligence. This is the result of a survey conducted by Ipsos for the music streaming platform Deezer. As Jaspreet Singh reports for Reuters, the study polled 9,000 people across eight countries. The findings highlight growing …

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Warner Music Group and AI music generator Suno end lawsuit with partnership deal

Warner Music Group has announced a partnership with the AI music generator Suno, settling a previous copyright infringement lawsuit. Murray Stassen reports for Music Business Worldwide. The two companies will collaborate on developing new licensed AI music models. According to the announcement, the deal gives artists and songwriters full control over the use of their …

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AI music platform Suno raises $250 million for ambitious expansion

The AI music platform Suno has raised $250 million in a new funding round, bringing its valuation to $2.45 billion. Kristin Robinson reports for Billboard, citing an investor pitch deck that outlines the company’s rapid growth and future plans. Suno claims its users create a volume of music equivalent to Spotify’s entire catalog every two …

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Warner Music partners with AI startup Udio after settling lawsuit

Warner Music has settled a lawsuit with the artificial intelligence startup Udio and entered into a licensing agreement, according to people familiar with the matter. This deal allows Udio to use music from Warner’s extensive catalog, which includes artists like Ed Sheeran and Madonna. Anna Nicolaou reports for the Financial Times that the agreement paves …

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AI music service Klay signs licensing deals with major labels

The AI music startup Klay has secured licensing agreements with all three major record labels: Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group. Lucas Shaw reports for Bloomberg that Klay is the first AI music service to sign deals with all three. The company is building a streaming platform that will allow users to …

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Music and gaming companies shift from lawsuits to partnerships with AI firms

Major players in the music and gaming industries are moving from legal disputes over copyright to strategic collaborations with generative AI companies. This shift focuses on creating licensed AI tools that ensure artists and rights holders are compensated and maintain control over their work. A key example is the recent settlement between Universal Music Group …

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A record deal for an AI-generated artist raises copyright questions

Record company Hallwood Media has signed a deal with lyricist Telisha “Nikki” Jones, the human creator behind the popular AI-generated R&B artist Xania Monet. Elissa Welle reports for The Verge that the deal highlights significant legal uncertainties surrounding AI and copyright. Xania Monet has over a million listens on Spotify, but her likeness, vocals, and …

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