Universal Music Group on AI: Latest Developments

Universal Music Group is “very actively engaged with nearly a dozen different companies on significant new products and service plans that hold promise for a dramatic expansion of the AI music landscape” according to the latest memo to colleagues from chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge, which was sent yesterday.

Grainge also cited existing deals with startups ProRata and Klay; with BandLab and Soundlabs; and a a recently-signed deal with Japanese telco KDDI “to develop new music experiences for fans and artists using Gen AI” in his memo.

“Based on what we’ve done with our AI partners to date, and the new discussions that are underway, we can unequivocally say that AI has the potential to deliver creative tools that will enable us to connect our artists with their fans in new ways—and with advanced capability on a scale we’ve never encountered,” wrote Grainge.

“Further, I believe that Agentic AI, which dynamically employs complex reasoning and adaptation, has the potential to revolutionise how fans interact with and discover music,” he added – with the memo also reiterating UMG’s support for Spotify’s recent integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

UMG was recently reported to be in discussions with companies including ElevenLabs, Stability AI, Suno and Udio about deals. 

While Grainge’s memo did not give any specific details on those, he followed his mention of ProRata and Klay with a reference to “discussions with numerous additional like-minded companies whose products provide accurate attribution and tools which empower and compensate artists”.

“And to be clear—and this is very important—we will NOT license any model that uses an artist’s voice or generates new songs which incorporate an artist’s existing songs without their consent,” added Grainge.

He also said that the company has “established teams throughout UMG that will be working with artists and their representatives to bring these opportunities directly to them” – something that will be important, given rumblings from bodies representing artists, songwriters and their managers about the need for transparency and permission on this side of the licensing equation.

Finally, Grainge talked about the ongoing policy battles between AI companies lobbying for light-touch regulation, and the creative industries calling for protection of copyrighted work and human creators.

“We are confident that by displaying our willingness as a community to embrace those commercial AI models which value and enhance human artistry, we are demonstrating that market-based solutions promoting innovation are the answer,” he wrote. You can read the full memo here.