After unveiling a generative AI feature last year that creates music in the styles of renowned artists such as Charli XCX, John Legend, and T-Pain, YouTube is now seeking approval from major record labels to replicate more musicians. According to the Financial Times, the Google-owned video platform is proposing to pay Universal Music Group (UMG), Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Records substantial amounts of money in return for the rights to use their songs to legally train its AI music technology.
YouTube communicated to the Financial Times that it is not intending to expand Dream Track, which was backed by just ten artists during its initial phase, but confirmed that it is discussing other innovative projects with record labels. The platform aims to license music from many more artists, as stated in the report, to train new AI tools that YouTube plans to introduce later this year. Although the exact payment YouTube is offering for these licenses has not been revealed, the report suggests these will likely be one-time payments instead of royalty-based agreements.
Convincing both artists and the labels that represent them could be a challenge. Sony Music has strongly cautioned AI companies against the “unauthorized use” of its content, and UMG temporarily removed its entire music catalog from TikTok due to insufficient protections against AI-generated music, which disrupted licensing negotiations. In January, over 200 artists, including Billie Eilish, Pearl Jam, and Katy Perry, urged tech companies to stop using AI to “infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists.”
This news comes shortly after the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which represents record labels like Sony, Warner, and Universal, filed separate copyright infringement lawsuits against two leading generative AI music companies. The labels allege that outputs from Suno and Udio were created using “unlicensed copying of sound recordings on a massive scale,” with the RIAA seeking damages of up to $150,000 per infringement.
Recent Developments
Recently, there has been increasing concern about AI’s influence on the music industry. As AI technology advances, it becomes easier for companies to produce music that mimics popular artists, raising important questions about the future of music creation and copyright laws. The music industry is struggling to find a balance between fostering innovation and protecting artists’ rights.
In a notable update, Universal Music Group and YouTube have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement to test the AI music feature with more artists. The pilot program is expected to include a wider variety of genres and artists, potentially reshaping how AI is integrated into music production. This development indicates a possible shift in the industry’s approach to AI, moving from skepticism to cautious experimentation.
