Key Points
- Warner Music Group signs licensing deal with AI platform Suno.
- Artists who opt in can have their voices, names, likenesses and songs used in AI‑generated music.
- Participating musicians retain full control over the use of their artistic identities.
- The agreement promises new revenue streams for artists and the label.
- WMG drops its lawsuit against Suno, indicating a shift toward collaborative AI use.
- Other major labels, including Universal Music Group and Sony, have also moved to licensing arrangements with AI services.
- Suno plans to develop next‑gen AI models using the licensed WMG catalog.
- A paid subscription model for song downloads is slated to launch next year.
Warner Music Group Partners with Suno
Warner Music Group (WMG) has finalized a licensing arrangement with the AI‑driven music creation service Suno. Under the terms of the agreement, Suno’s users will be able to craft AI‑generated tracks that incorporate the vocal tones, names, visual likenesses, images and copyrighted compositions of any WMG artist who chooses to participate.
Artist Control and Revenue Opportunities
Participating musicians retain full control over how their artistic identities are employed in the platform, a provision highlighted by Suno as a way to open fresh revenue streams. The partnership is positioned to let fans interact with favorite artists in novel ways while ensuring creators receive compensation for the use of their work.
Legal Shift: Lawsuit Withdrawal
In conjunction with the licensing deal, WMG announced it is dropping the lawsuit it previously filed against Suno, a case that had alleged the platform illegally copied copyrighted material from YouTube. The withdrawal reflects a broader industry trend, as other major labels have also moved toward licensing agreements rather than litigation.
Industry Context
Recent weeks have seen several record companies embrace AI technology. Warner Music Group settled a similar arrangement with AI music maker Udio, while Universal Music Group ended its own litigation against Suno in favor of a licensing pact. Additionally, the ethical AI music platform Klay has secured agreements with Universal Music Group, Sony and Warner Music Group.
Suno’s Future Plans
Suno intends to leverage the newly licensed WMG catalog to train next‑generation music generation models that it claims will surpass its current flagship version. The platform also plans to transition to a paid‑subscription model for song downloads next year, with tiered accounts offering a set number of downloads each month.
Source: theverge.com