Sir Lucian Grainge has confirmed that UMG is in talks with a dozen different companies on “significant new products and service plans that hold promise for a dramatic expansion of the AI music landscape”.
In an update to UMG staff, the Universal Music Group CEO & chairman reported on the progress on the major’s efforts to take advantage of developing opportunities in generative AI.
It follows the report earlier this month that both UMG and Warner Music are both moving closer to landmark AI licensing deals with key players in the tech space.
“The foundation of what we’re doing is the belief that together, we can foster a healthy commercial AI ecosystem in which artists, songwriters, music companies and technology companies can all flourish together,” wrote Sir Lucian.
UMG was the first to enter into AI-related agreements with companies such as YouTube, TikTok and Meta, as well as emerging platforms such as BandLab, Soundlabs, and more.
Universal Music Japan recently announced an agreement with KDDI, a leading Japanese telecommunications company, to develop new music experiences for fans and artists using GenAI.
Meanwhile, Spotify recently integrated ChatGPT – a move that Sir Lucian said “offers a pathway to move fluidly from query and discovery to enjoyment of music – and all within a monetised ecosystem”.
Sir Lucian also wrote that UMG 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”.
“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 Sir Lucian. “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.
“I know that we will successfully navigate as well as seize these opportunities and that these new products could constitute a significant source of new future revenue for artists and songwriters. We will be actively engaged in discussing all of these developments with the entire creative community.”
I know that we will successfully navigate as well as seize these opportunities and that these new products could constitute a significant source of new future revenue for artists and songwriters
Sir Lucian Grainge
Acknowledging that some of the biggest opportunities will require further exploration, he added that the major is “excited by the compelling AI models we’re seeing emerge”.
Sir Lucian stressed that UMG will only consider advancing AI products based on models that are trained responsibly. The major has entered into agreements with AI developers such as ProRata and Klay, among others, and are in discussions with additional 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,” he added.
Turning to the legislative approach to AI around the world, Sir Lucian wrote: “We remain acutely aware of the fact that large and powerful AI companies are pressuring governments around the world to legitimise the training of AI technology on copyrighted material without owner consent or compensation, among other proposals.
“To be clear: all these misguided proposals amount to nothing more than the unauthorised (and, we believe, illegal) exploitation of the rights and property of creative artists.”
Sir Lucian also welcomed the move by platforms such as Spotify to remove AI ‘slop’, following a lead set by UMG with its artist-centric principles.
Universal and Sony Music recently announced an agreement with SoundPatrol, a new company led by Stanford scientists that employs patented technology to protect artists’ work from unauthorised use in AI music generators.
Sir Lucian underlined the fact that demonstrating that market-based solutions promoting innovation is the best approach to navigating developments in AI.
“So, as we work to assure safeguards for artists, we will help lead the way forward, which is why we are exploring and finding innovative ways to use this revolutionary technology to create new commercial opportunities for artists and songwriters while simultaneously aiding and protecting human creativity,” he concluded.
PHOTO: Austin Hargrave
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