YouTube is actively expanding its AI music generation capabilities. After launching a music generation feature based on the styles of famous artists last year, YouTube is trying to reach a deal with three major record labels - Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group - to obtain permission to use their music libraries to train AI models. The move aims to further enhance the capabilities of its AI music tools, with plans to launch new AI tools later this year. However, the move also faced resistance from record companies and artists, who expressed concerns about copyright protection and artist rights for AI-generated music.
YouTube last year launched a generative AI feature that can create music in the style of famous artists such as Charli XCX, John Legend and T-Pain, and now the video platform is seeking a deal with major labels to allow it to copy more music people.
The Google-owned video platform is offering "a lump sum of cash" from Universal Music Group (UMG), Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Records in exchange for the license, the Financial Times reported , using its songs to legally train its AI music tool.
YouTube said it had no plans to expand Dream Track - which was supported by just 10 artists in the beta phase - but confirmed it was "in conversations with record labels about other experiments". The platform reportedly plans to license music from "dozens" of artists to train a new AI tool it plans to launch later this year. How much YouTube is willing to pay for these licenses has not been disclosed, but reports suggest it could be a one-time payment rather than a royalty-based arrangement. Regardless, artists and the labels that represent them may need some convincing.
Sony Music has repeatedly warned AI companies "not to use" its content without permission, while Universal Music has been willing to temporarily pull its entire music catalog from TikTok due to poor protection of AI-generated music, leading to the breakdown of licensing negotiations. In January this year, more than 200 artists, including Billie Eilish, Pearl Jam and Katy Perry, also called on technology companies to stop using AI to "violate and demean the rights of human artists."
News of these discussions came just days after the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which represents record labels including Sony, Warner and Universal, filed separate copyright infringement lawsuits against two top companies in the field of generative AI music. The label claimed that Suno and Udio's output was produced through "large-scale unauthorized copying of sound recordings," and the RIAA sought damages of up to $150,000 per infringement.
Highlight:
⭐ YouTube seeks deal with major record labels to allow use of its songs to train AI music tools
⭐ Record companies are cautious about protecting AI-generated music and need full convincing from YouTube
⭐ The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against two generative AI music companies, demanding high compensation.
The cooperation negotiations between YouTube and record companies are full of challenges. The final result will have a profound impact on the field of AI music generation, and also indicates that the game between AI technology development and copyright protection will become more intense in the future. This incident also reminds us that in the context of the rapid development of AI technology, how to balance technological innovation and intellectual property protection is crucial.