Warner Music Group (WMG) has reached a licensing deal with Suno, a company known for its AI music creation tools, allowing users to generate music that incorporates the voices and likenesses of artists who choose to participate. The partnership is designed to grant participating artists full control over how their likeness and music are used, with the potential to open up new revenue streams and interactive experiences for both artists and fans. “These will be new creation experiences from artists who do opt in, which will open up new revenue streams for them and allow you to interact with them in new ways,” Suno stated, emphasizing that users will be able to “build around” an artist’s sounds “and ensure they get compensated.”
As part of the agreement, Suno plans to integrate licensed music from WMG into its next-generation music generation models, which the company claims will surpass its current v5 model. This integration aims to enhance the quality and creativity of AI-generated music. Additionally, Suno is set to implement a paid account system for users starting next year, with each tier offering a specific number of song downloads per month. This change is part of Suno’s strategy to monetize its platform more effectively.
WMG’s decision to drop its previous lawsuit against Suno, which had accused the company of scraping copyrighted material, signifies a shift in the company’s approach. The lawsuit had been a point of contention, but with the new partnership, WMG appears to be embracing a more collaborative stance with Suno. This move reflects a broader trend in the music industry where traditional record labels are increasingly partnering with AI companies to explore new avenues for artist engagement and revenue generation.
The collaboration between WMG and Suno also raises important questions about the ownership and compensation of artists’ likenesses in the age of AI technology. As the use of AI in music creation continues to grow, the industry faces challenges in balancing innovation with the protection of artists’ rights. This partnership serves as a case study in how record labels are navigating these complex issues, aiming to benefit both artists and consumers in the evolving digital landscape.