Warner Music Group on Wednesday said it had reached an agreement with artificial intelligence startup Udio, ending litigation over concerns that copyrighted music is being used to train AI models.
Under the agreement, next year Udio will release a platform using artificial intelligence models trained on licensed and authorized music, the New York-based companies said. The music could include content from WMG's publishing business, providing new revenue for artists and songwriters who want to participate, the companies added.
Udio declined to say which artists will be featured on its new platform, and WMG did not respond to a request for comment. WMG's roster of artists includes Ed Sheeran, Fleetwood Mac and Madonna.
The startup's current platform allows users to write text prompts and create songs using artificial intelligence. The new version, expected to launch next year, will allow users to create remixes, covers and new songs featuring the voices of artists and songwriters who choose to participate, and those artists and songwriters will be credited and paid, the companies said.
“This collaboration aligns with our broader efforts to responsibly unlock the potential of artificial intelligence, driving new creative and commercial opportunities while continuing to deliver innovative experiences for fans,” said Robert Kinkle, CEO of WMG, in a statement.
WMG, Universal Music Group (UMG), Sony Music Entertainment and other music companies. sued Udio last year. The suit accused Udio of using hits like the Temptations' “My Girl” to create a similar tune called “Sunshine Melody.” UMG owns the copyright to “My Girl”.
Udio said millions of people have used Udio since its launch in 2024, but did not specify exactly how many downloads or website users it has.
UMG agreed with Udio last month. Udio declined to disclose the terms of the settlement with UMG. The tech company also did not provide financial details about its platform's collaboration with WMG or which artists will be involved.
“The collaboration with WMG marks an important milestone in our mission to reimagine how artificial intelligence and the music industry evolve together,” said Andrew Sanchez, co-founder and CEO of Udio, in a statement. “This partnership is a critical step toward realizing a future in which technology empowers creativity and opens up new opportunities for artists and songwriters.”
The rise of artificial intelligence in the arts has sparked a range of emotions in the entertainment industry, from fear of job replacement to excitement about new ways to test bold ideas in the arts. music videos and musical experimentation on a smaller budget.
Following the announcement of the UMG-Udio deal, Jordan Bromley, a board member of the nonprofit Music Artists Coalition and leader of Manatt Entertainment, said he was “cautiously optimistic but pressing for details.”
Music Artists Coalition executive director Ron Gubitz said the agreement announcements “lacked important details that songwriters and performers deserve.”
“The question still remains whether these deals will deliver the most important things that artists deserve: consent, clarity and compensation,” Gubitz said in a statement.
