Universal Music Group and ElevenLabs Partner to Launch Fully Licensed AI Generation Model
This announcement comes days after Suno announced its new licensed AI model with Warner Music Group, Believe, and BMG
AI music product developer ElevenLabs has announced a new AI generation model built with fully licensed data from Universal Music Group (UMG). This model comes as part of a multi-year licensing and product development partnership between the two companies.
Why it matters:
UMG is the largest of the three major labels. As such, this agreement suggests over 3 million recordings were used to develop this model.
This week, Suno announced a similar model built with data from Warner Music Group (WMG). Suno is also expected to integrate data from BMG and Believe following licensing deals with both large-scale music companies.
So, in this week alone, two of the three major labels have announced that their catalogs have been licensed for AI generation.
Furthermore, BMG, which has been referred to as the “fourth major,” has licensed its catalog as well.
How it works:
The press release from UMG says the model is “built on licensed music and artist participation.”
Similar to Suno’s announcement, the partnership will soon offer the ability to remix and otherwise directly create derivative works from “participating artists and songwriters.”
Follow the money:
While no mention of direct royalties from the model was made, the language says that the new model will “enable artists and songwriters to share in the value created” from AI music.
A quote from UMG Chairman & CEO Sir Lucian Grainge mentions the model will unlock “new revenue streams.”
What they said:
Grainge: “The most exciting possibilities for AI and music are those that put artists, songwriters, and fans at the center. UMG and ElevenLabs are aligned that responsible AI can inspire discovery, deepen engagement between artists and fans, and unlock new revenue opportunities for the creative community. ElevenLabs’ leadership in AI audio brings a new dimension to our growing ecosystem of partners committed to expanding what’s creatively and commercially possible for human artistry.”
ElevenLabs Co-Founder and CEO Mati Staniszewski: “AI opens up incredible possibilities for interacting with our favorite music and artists. By combining UMG’s global community and rights management expertise with our AI models and products, we’ll enable artists and songwriters to create powerful new experiences for their fans, and ensure they are fairly compensated.”
👋 Disclosures & Transparency Block
This article was written from a press release provided by UMG.
We covered it because it is a major development in how AI can exist within the music industry.
