Warner Music Group has resolved a copyright infringement lawsuit against AI music generation platform Udio and unveiled a new collaboration to develop an AI music platform. In a joint announcement, both companies disclosed that Udio will create a music platform for creation, listening, and discovery, set to launch in 2026. The platform will utilize generative AI trained on licensed music. Udio’s co-founder and CEO, Andrew Sanchez, expressed excitement about enabling fans to create music alongside their favorite artists in an environment that prioritizes artist control and connection.
The upcoming Udio platform will empower users to craft new songs, remixes, and covers using the works of participating artists, such as Ed Sheeran, Fleetwood Mac, Dua Lipa, and Zach Bryan from Warner’s roster. Financial details of the settlement and agreement were not disclosed.
This marks Udio’s second major music company deal, following a similar agreement with Universal Music Group. Additionally, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, and Sony Music Entertainment have separately inked agreements with startup Klay Vision. Warner stated that their collaboration with Klay Vision will enhance music experiences for fans using AI technology while respecting the rights of artists and songwriters.
Furthermore, Warner announced a separate partnership with Stability AI to develop AI tools for songwriters, artists, and producers. The deal between Udio and Warner mirrors the agreement between Udio and Universal Music Group last month. The settlement with Universal marked the first resolution after lawsuits were filed against AI startups for copyright infringement. Udio and Suno had defended their use of copyrighted sound recordings to train their AI systems as fair use under U.S. copyright law.
This agreement signifies AI’s growing presence in the music industry, with AI-generated music increasingly appearing on streaming platforms. The rise of chatbot-like song generators has led to the rapid production of new tunes based on user prompts. The debut of AI artist Xania Monet on a Billboard airplay chart highlights the evolving landscape where AI musicians are gaining recognition. Concerns have been raised about AI’s potential to disrupt music creation, consumption, and monetization, with a survey indicating that listeners struggle to differentiate between AI-generated and human-composed songs.