Labels, AI firms in talks

Record labels are reportedly in discussions to license music to AI music generation companies Udio and Suno. These talks could potentially settle copyright lawsuits filed by the labels, which accuse the AI firms of using copyrighted material without permission to train their models. The lawsuits, initiated by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on behalf of major labels like Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Records, allege that Udio and Suno's AI models were trained on copyrighted music without proper licensing, seeking damages of up to $150,000 per infringed song.

YouTube is also in negotiations with major labels to license music for its AI tools, aiming to avoid similar legal challenges. These potential agreements may involve one-time payments rather than royalties, mirroring arrangements seen with social media platforms like Meta and TikTok. The outcome of these discussions could significantly shape the future of AI-generated music and the relationship between the music industry and AI technology, setting precedents for ethical and legal standards in the use of copyrighted material for AI training.