Major Labels Demand DistroKid's AI Music Data in Suno Lawsuit

Universal Music Group (UMG) and Sony Music Entertainment have filed a motion to compel DistroKid to turn over data related to the amount of AI-generated music it distributes. The two major labels are seeking this data in relation to their longstanding copyright case against Suno.

The details:

• The motion follows a subpoena filed against DistroKid back in September.

• DistroKid replied to that motion in writing, detailing proprietary systems to catch AI-generated music.

• The labels’ order demands the indie distributor share documentation showing the number of recordings delivered to streamers, how many of those were tested with the AI system, how many were flagged as AI, the total royalties produced because of them, and how many of the songs were made on Suno.

• A separate order is focused on DistroKid’s detection system, asking who developed it, its ability to identify the source of the AI-generated music, and DistroKid’s available data on its accuracy.

• UMG and Sony argue DistroKid’s high volume of AI music shared on streaming shifts the royalty pool away from human artists while using their copyrighted works to train AI models without permission.

• To counter, DistroKid argues that its service of digital distribution is not related to whether Suno broke the law in acquiring data for its models.

• DistroKid has until October 30 to comply with the order.

Background:

• UMG has filed a separate lawsuit against DistroKid.

• The claims made in that lawsuit are similar to the grounds the labels are using to acquire the proposed documents in the Suno case.

• In discovery for this suit, UMG found that DistroKid sent almost 12 million tracks to one streaming service between March and September 2026.

• This was apparently more than half of the streamer's total tracks received in that period and more than every other distributor combined.