Warner Music Group settles lawsuit with AI firm Suno
Warner Music Group announced a partnership with AI company Suno on Tuesday that will compensate music artists and songwriters, ending a legal battle between the two companies.
Suno allows users to write text prompts to create songs. Last year, music companies including WMG sued Suno, accusing it of using copyrighted songs to train AI models.
As part of the partnership, Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Suno will make changes to its platform next year, launch new licensed models and impose download restrictions. For example, free tier users will not be able to download songs they have created. Paid users will have download caps but can pay more to increase this amount.
WMG artists can choose to use their image, voice, name and compositions in AI-generated music, which will open up new revenue streams for them, Suno said in a blog post.
“This historic agreement with Suno is a win for the creative community that benefits everyone,” Robert Kyncl, CEO of WMG, said in a statement. “With Suno rapidly evolving, both in terms of users and monetization, we took this opportunity to shape models that increase revenue and deliver new experiences for fans.”
WMG declined to comment on the financial terms of the settlement or the artists who will participate. A Suno representative referred the Times to the company’s blog, which did not detail financial terms.
Kyncl said in a Nov. 20 blog post that its company would only enter into AI deals with partners that “commit to licensed models,” that the terms reflect the value of the music, and that artists and songwriters have the choice to agree to the use of their name, image, likeness or voice in AI-generated songs.
Suno claims that nearly 100 million people use its platform to make music. Last week, Suno closed a $250 million fundraising round from investors including Menlo Ventures, giving the AI business a valuation of $2.45 billion.
Suno CEO Mikey Shulman said the partnership with WMG “unlocks a bigger, richer Suno experience for music lovers.”
“Together we can improve the way music is created, consumed, experienced and shared,” Shulman said in a statement.
Suno also acquired music and concert discovery platform Songkick from WMG. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Last week, WMG also reached a deal with AI company Udio, resolving its dispute with the company.
