Kobalt Signs Licensing Deal to Contribute Catalog to Spotify's AI Remixing Tool
UMG and Merlin have also signed on to the new feature from Spotify
Kobalt, one of the largest independent publishers, has signed a licensing deal with Spotify for the streaming giant's upcoming AI remixing tool. Kobalt is the third major industry force to sign on, following Universal Music Group (UMG), which was announced at launch, and indie licensor Merlin, which just announced participation.
How it works:
Similar to Merlin, Kobalt has stated that artists on its roster can opt in or out.
Those who opt in will receive revenue generated from the tool, which is going to be a paid add-on to Spotify.
What they said:
Charlie Hellman, Senior VP and Global Head of Music at Spotify: “Covers and remixes begin with the song, which makes music publishers and songwriters essential partners in building this tool the right way. This agreement with Kobalt is grounded in consent, credit, and compensation for the songwriters who take part, and every creation drives listeners back to the original song. We look forward to welcoming more partners as we continue to build.”
Laurent Hubert, CEO at Kobalt: “Fans have always sought deeper engagement with the songs they love, whether through listening or creating their own covers and remixes. Spotify’s new AI-powered creative tools are built on a foundation of ethical training, fair compensation, and intentional guardrails. This agreement is designed to ensure our songwriters can connect with their audience in unprecedented ways, while directly benefiting from the creative opportunities these new features provide.”
👋 Disclosures & Transparency Block
This article was written with information sourced from Billboard.
We covered it because the remixing tool represents major music industry forces collaborating in the realm of AI.
