Mashene Music Las Vegas April 13th, 2023
Universal Music Group (UMG), one of the leading music labels, is making efforts to limit the proliferation of AI-generated tracks on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, according to a recent report by The Financial Times. The use of artificial intelligence in the music industry has been on the rise, with companies such as Hybe, Spotify, Apple, and even UMG itself investing in AI-related technologies in 2022.
Ironically, UMG had previously backed Soundful, an AI-powered startup that claimed to enable anyone to create music quickly. However, now UMG is reportedly targeting AI-derivative works with takedown requests and asking streaming services to cut off access to its catalog for developers using it to train AI technology.
The Big Three label is said to have been issuing takedown requests “left and right,” according to an anonymous source, in an effort to combat the use of AI-generated music that may lack proper compensation and authorization. In a letter to streaming services, UMG cited the need for obtaining required consents and paying compensation to rightsholders as the driving factors behind their concerns, rather than the potential market effects of mass-produced music via AI.
A UMG spokesperson stated that the label has a “moral and commercial responsibility to our artists to work to prevent the unauthorized use of their music,” and expects platform partners to prevent their services from being used in ways that harm artists. UMG is reportedly working on an updated streaming compensation model to ensure that great music does not get drowned in an ocean of noise.
The role of AI in the music industry and its impact on intellectual property rights continue to raise questions. The U.S. Copyright Office (USCO) recently issued new guidance on AI copyrights and plans to launch an agency-wide initiative to delve into related rights-related issues.
As the music industry grapples with the evolving landscape of AI-generated music, it remains to be seen how these efforts by UMG and other stakeholders will shape the future of music creation, consumption, and compensation in the digital age.
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